SECOND EDITION

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015 | Kartik 7, 1422, Moharram 8, 1437 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 186 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

n Kamrul Hasan

Cesare Tavella’s murderers have been iden-ti� ed, sources close to the investigation said yesterday, as one investigating agency circu-lated security camera images believed to be of the Italian national’s three killers.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detec-tive Branch (DB) Deputy Commissioner (East Zone) Mahbub Alam, who leads the murder probe committee, told the Dhaka Tribune that the three killers in the Tavella murder case had been identi� ed, are currently under surveillance and would soon be brought be-fore the public and the courts.

Despite o� cial denials by the Detective Branch that the suspects had been arrested, a source in an investigating agency said three murder suspects and a man suspected of claiming the murder on behalf of the Islamic State (IS) group in a Twitter announcement were in custody.

An investigating agency yesterday leaked security camera images of the suspected kill-ers to news agencies, but declined to make any o� cial comment about the images.

In one image, a man is seen walking on a street wearing a striped blue T-shirt, jeans

PAGE 4 COLUMN 2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015 | Kartik 7, 1422, Moharram 8, 1437 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 186 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

JOE BIDEN NOT RUNNING FOR WHITE HOUSE PAGE 32

ROHINGYAS INVOLVED IN KIDNAPPING IN CTG PAGE 5

TRAFFICKERS SEEK NEW ROUTES TO MALAYSIA PAGE 7

MONEY LAUNDERING

APG concerned aboutgovt shortcomingsn Adil Sakhawat

A visiting delegation of Asia Paci� c Group (APG) – who came to Dhaka to evaluate an-ti-money laundering e� orts of Bangladesh – has expressed concerns about shortcomings of the government in stopping terror � nanc-ing and money laundering.

“The visiting APG team expressed con-cerns about four issues – government’s pro-curement policy, gold smuggling, the role of state-owned banks, and the Anti-Corruption Commission – in dealing with money laun-dering and terrorist funding,” said Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

The eight-member delegation headed by David Shannon made the observations dur-ing a meeting with the minister in his resi-dence in the capital yesterday.

“In reply, I have assured the APG team of amending the procurement act soon,” Mu-hith told journalists after the meeting.

That amendment is currently being pre-pared, the minister said, adding that an out-side group will come to the country and work from November 1-3 to strengthen the govern-ment procurement policy and � nd out its loopholes.

The Asia Paci� c Group’s Financial Action Task Force, during its visit, evaluated Bang-ladesh’s regulatory and functional capabil-ities in tackling the recent terrorist threats and the country’s poor records in containing unabated money laundering.

Commenting on the delegation’s concerns about gold smuggling, Muhith said: “The government is yet to take any step against

PAGE 4 COLUMN 1

GULSHAN UNDERAGE DRIVING ACCIDENT

DMP: Legal action after receiving HC documentsn Kamrul Hasan

The DMP has said it will take action against the underage driver, who ran over and in-jured four people with an SUV, as soon as they receive the documents of a High Court ruling on this regard.

Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropol-itan Police (media and public relations) Mun-tasirul Islam said they were yet to receive the documents from the High Court.

“If the court ordered to � le a case the case will be � led, and if it asked for any other action it will be done within due time,” he added.

On Tuesday, a High Court bench asked the government and police to explain their inac-tion against a 16-year-old boy who injured four people with an SUV in Gulshan on Oc-tober 12.

Based on a public interest litigation writ, the bench also sought explanation on why departmental action should not be taken against the Gulshan OC.

Sirajul Islam, o� cer-in-charge of the Gul-shan police station, could not be reached over phone for comment yesterday.

The OC, however, had earlier told the Dhaka Tribune that he was unaware about the whereabouts of the accused teen, whose identity is not being published because of his status as a minor.

O� cer-in-Charge of Airport police immi-gration said they have so far not been told to prevent the teen, who is the nephew of a for-mer MP of Awami League, from leaving the country; such alerts only came after a case or a general diary was � led, he added.

PAGE 4 COLUMN 1

Leaked images show Tavella murder suspects

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015News4D

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APG concerned about govt shortcomingsthe illegal activities, as Bangladesh is being used only as a transit to India and Middle East.”

However, Bangladesh Bank was already busy taking some steps against gold smug-gling, while further e� ective measures against gold smuggling would also be intro-duced in the next budget, the minister added.

The visiting APG team, however, praised the country’s strategy in combating money laundering but urged the government to fol-low up on its strategies.

“By this year, my committee working against those issues and also myself will hold meeting and take steps regarding the strate-gies taken against money laundering and ter-ror � nancing.” Muhit said.

On APG’s concerns about state-owned banks, the minister said: “In public sector banking, we have weaknesses; but I hope we can overcome that and I have been planning to discuss this with the prime minister. In a month or two after discussing, some steps will be taken regarding this public sector

banking which will be fruitful, I believe.”The visiting delegation has also collected

documents related to state-run Sonali Bank and Basic Bank for further scrutiny, he added.

The minister said the APG team has found that the ACC’s measures against money laun-dering and terror � nancing were less than before.

“I will discuss the matter with the chair-man of the ACC soon,” Muhith said.

When contacted about the APG observa-tions, M Bodiuzzaman, chairman of Anti-Cor-

ruption Commission, said the watchdog’s e� ectiveness in tackling money laundering was weakened after the central bank’s Bang-ladesh Financial Intelligence Unit took over the role of probing into terror � nancing and money laundering issues.

The commission’s e� ectiveness is likely to be diminished further as there are specu-lations that further investigative jurisdiction on money laundering issues would be hand-ed over to the police in the future, the ACC chief added. l

DMP: Legal action after receiving HC documentsMeanwhile, Shoave Rahman, an uncle of the accused, said: “We have heard about the hearing through media, and it is too confus-ing to make any comments. Once we are con-� rmed about what is going on, we will decide what to do.”

Commenting on underage driving, Shoave said his nephew was not the only underage driver in Dhaka city. Claiming that underage members of most families in Dhaka frequent-ly drive around in their cars, Shoave said his nephew’s case only drew attention as there had been an accident.

Denying allegations that the teen had been drunk at the time of the accident, Shoave said he knew nothing about any alco-hol being found inside the wrecked SUV.

But police sources earlier told the Dhaka Tribune that alcohol was found inside the car after the accident. The vehicle is now being kept at the Gulshan police station as evi-dence. l

Leaked images show Tavella murder suspectsand slippers. He is seen using a mobile tele-phone.

In another image taken by the same cam-era, a motorcyclist is seen wearing a light coloured shirt while another person is seen sitting on the motorbike behind the driver wearing darker colours.

The suspects’ faces are unclear in the images. Witnesses earlier told investigators that

they had seen three people involved in the shooting. Two had approached Tavella while a third man waited on a motorbike, they said.

On September 28, Tavella was fatally shot on the footpath just outside the boundary wall of the Bangladesh Bank governor’s res-idence on Road 90 in the capital’s posh Gul-shan neighbourhood. He was shot by a single shooter, according to the ballistics report.

The shooter and two accomplices � ed the scene of the crime on a motorbike via Gul-shan Roads 83 and 89, witnesses said.

Investigators said one of the killers might have gotten o� the motorcycle at some point so that they would not be easily identi� ed.

When asked about the images, DB deputy commissioner Mahbub said many agencies were involved in the investigation and one of

them might have publicised them. Investigators have o� cially denied that

they have made any arrests in the Tavella murder case. But a source at one investi-gating agency claimed the suspected killers were already in custody.

The same source con� rmed that eight to ten people had been detained by investiga-tors, including Bhangari Sohel, 35, Tamjid Ahmed alias Rubel, 35, Rasel Chowdhury, 27, and one Rubel, 32. Rubel was taken into cus-tody for allegedly issuing the IS claim tweet.

Rasel Chowdhury’s mother told the Dha-ka Tribune that a plain clothes team led by an o� cial named Zeahad picked her son up from their house around 11am on October 10. She said they did not answer her when she asked if they had a warrant for the arrest.

“The men just told me that they had come from Mintoo Road,” she said.

DB Inspector Zeahad Hossain is the inves-tigating o� cer in the Tavella murder case.

She claims that Rasel was not involved in politics, aside from taking part with friends in political processions during his school days.

When asked about his physical appear-

ance, she said Rasel was 5 foot 6 or 7 inch-es tall and had a dark complexion. She de-scribed him as having a medium build and short black hair.

Residents of his neighbourhood said Rasel had been a drug addict for several years.

Sources close to the investigation said Tamjid Ahmed alias Rubel, Sohel and Rasel were very likely Cesare Tavella’s killers. In-vestigators said they were trying to locate the mastermind behind the killing.

They said links had been discovered con-necting the murder to an anti-ruling party group. Investigators said the group had been assisted by two foreign agencies.

Although police initially said footage col-lected from near the crime scene was not clear and would be of little help to the inves-tigation, the latest lead appears to be based entirely on security camera footage.

Investigators said they had looked into Ta-vella’s personal, professional and social life for clues to the slaying but that these angles failed to provide any leads.

They said they were also sensitive to the possibility that the killing was part of a con-spiracy to create unrest in the country. l

8th pay scale order submitted to Law Ministry n Tribune Report

The Finance Division has submitted the eighth pay scale order for civil servants to the Law Ministry for vetting.

An o� cial of the implementation wing of the Finance Division said if there is no query from the ministry concerned the eighth pay scale order will be passed within two days.

“We hope that the eighth pay scale order will be issued he next month.”

Sources in the Finance Division said Fi-nance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed yesterday sent the order to the Law Ministry after he closely reviewed the 12-page order.

On Tuesday, Finance Minister AMA Mu-hith said some public servants, especially second-class employees, do not understand cumulative increment as civil servants will enjoy the promotion under that increment system instead of the old time scale and se-lection grade system.

“We hope that public servants will un-derstand the cumulative increment system when it is implemented,” he said.

The eighth pay scale for public servants got cabinet consent on September 6.

The new pay scale for 2.1 million civil servants will be e� ective from July 1, 2015. There is no time scale and selection grade in the new pay scale.

However, the pay scale has the provision of yearly increment. l

Trial run of biometric registration for SIMs beginsn Tribune Report

The trial run of biometric registration for mobile phone SIMs was inaugurated yester-day by Sajeeb Wazed Joy, ICT adviser to the prime minister, at the secretariat.

Joy launched the process at the Posts and Telecommunications Division o� ce by be-coming the � rst customer to carry out his bi-ometric registration by purchasing a SIM from state-owned mobile phone operator Teletalk.

Telecom Division Secretary Faizur Rahman Chowdhury Teletalk Managing Director Gias-uddin Ahmed handed over the SIM to Joy, who paid for it from his own wallet.

“I am feeling very proud today as Bangla-desh became the second country in the world to adopt the biometric system of registering mobile SIM,” said the adviser.

“I gave some advices and you people im-plemented it. I had a dream to do something for the people of this soil by implementing Digital Bangladesh,” he added.

According to the latest BTRC statistics, there are 13.14 crore active mobile phone sub-scribers in Bangladesh. All the subscribers will have to go through the biometric registration process.

At the inauguration ceremony, Tarana Hal-im, state minister for posts and telecommuni-

cation division, said that after the trial run is completed, biometric identi� cation for exist-ing SIMs would begin on December 16.

On Tuesday, Tarana told journalist that all biometric SIM registration processes are to be completed by March next year; otherwise, mobile operators must face a $50 penalty for each unveri� ed SIM.

After meeting with all mobile operator CEOs on September 10, Tarana Halim issued directives to all operators to start the process of SIM re-registration from September 13.

Users would get three months’ time to re-register their SIM cards, after which all un-registered SIMs would be blocked. l

Medical admission protesters to hold solidarity rallyn DU Correspondent

Protesting medical admission seekers will hold a solidarity rally in the city’s Shahbagh tomor-row afternoon to press home their demands of cancellation of September 19 test results and the retake of the MBBS, BDS entry tests.

Auyatullah Hasnath, convener of the movement, made the announcement in a press brie� ng on the TSC premises of Dhaka University yesterday afternoon.

“We have demonstrated for the last 33 days demanding the retake of the entry tests as the questions papers were leaked but since the authority concerned did not show any posi-tive response, we vowed to hold a solidarity at Shahbagh once again,” Auyatullah said.

He said the they had a discussion with Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) on Tuesday night and the association have agreed to extend their support if the allega-tions of question paper leakage is proved.

“The BMA said they will stand beside us if we can provide evidence of the question leak to them. But we told them that we will only provide our evidence if they form a commit-tee with our representative to investigate the matter,” he added. l

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015News 5

DT

Source: Accuweather/UNB

D H A K ATODAY TOMORROW

SUN SETS 5:27PM SUN RISES 5:59AM

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

35.2ºC 20.9ºC

Jessore Srimangol

SourceL IslamicFinder.org

F O R E C A S T F O R T O D A YDhaka 33 23Chittagong 31 24Rajshahi 32 21Rangpur 31 21Khulna 32 20Barisal 32 22Sylhet 32 19Cox’s Bazar 31 24

PRAYER TIMESFajr 4:44am

Sunrise 5:58amZohr 11:43am

Asr 3:50pmMagrib 5:27pm

Esha 6:43pm

WEATHER

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22

Green companies announce Ankara Business Declarationn Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

from Ankara, Turkey

The Sustainable Land Management Business Forum (SLMBF) yesterday announced the Ankara Business Declaration which aims to achieve a land degradation neutral world by 2030.

The business forum said land degradation translates into losses for businesses because of reduced productivity and higher costs, and also increases risks related to market ac-cess.

M Rifat Hisarciklioglu, president of the SLMBF, made the announcement at a press conference at the 12th conference of the parties (COP12) of the United Nations Con-vention to Combat Deserti� cation (UNCCD) being held in Ankara, Turkey.

The objective of land degradation neu-trality (LDN) is to maintain or even improve the amount of healthy and productive land resources over time and in line with national sustainable development priorities.

Rifat said coordinated global e� orts are required to halt and reverse land degrada-tion, restore degraded ecosystems and man-age land resources sustainably.

“The right institutional, political and legal frameworks accompanied by economic in-centives can allow the global community to achieve land degradation neutrality. While the participation of all stakeholders is critical to success, the private sector has the resourc-es and technological know-how that is need-ed for large scale investments and concrete action on the ground,” he said.

He said by bringing forth innovative solu-tions, businesses can signi� cantly contribute to the transformation of the economies to be-come land degradation neutral.

The declaration considers business risks from land degradation to be manifold, a� ect-ing businesses directly and indirectly through economic, social and environmental factors.

“… Sustainable land management prac-tices allow land assets to reach their full productivity potential hence presenting pos-itive outcomes for both businesses and other stakeholders,” the declaration reads.

The declaration says tackling land degra-dation requires unprecedented collaboration between all stakeholders – business, govern-ment and society.

“This declaration is an initial step towards implementing land degradation neutrality and needs to be supported by real action on the ground by all parties. We call on all com-panies to join us in our collaborative e� ort to implement sustainable land management practices and land restoration. Our next steps will be critical in materialising the tran-sition to a sustainable global economy,” the document reads.

Violaine Berger, president of World Busi-ness Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), said businesses have a key role to play in how land is managed across the globe.

The WBCSD is a CEO-led organisation of companies working to create a sustainable fu-ture for business, society and the environment.

“Ankara has provided a uni� ed view to achieve the LDN 2030 goal. Business needs government and government needs busi-ness. So, I think both will work hand in hand to achieve the target,” she said. l

Rohingyas involved in child kidnapping in ChittagongAbducted child rescued from Myanmar border, three Rohingyas heldn FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

The Rohingyas living in refugee camps near Cox’s Bazar border have been involved in a variety of criminal acts, which is a security threat for Chittagong and adjacent areas, ac-cording to police.

They say the Rohingya people use fake ad-dresses to commit crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, human tra� cking and abduc-tion, in southern Chittagong and adjacent areas, and later go into hiding at the camps.

Such allegations are not new but law en-forcement o� cials are concerned as they say crimes committed by the Rohingyas have in-creased at an alarming rate.

Additional Superintendent of Police (DSB) Mohammed Naimul Hasan of Chittagong district police yesterday said Rohingyas had formed a gang to abduct children from di� er-ent areas of the port city with a view to mak-ing lots of money fast.

“The kidnappers threaten the victims’ families by saying that they will smuggle the organs of the children if ransoms are not paid,” said Naimul Hasan while addressing a

press brie� ng at the o� ce of Chittagong’s su-perintendent of police yesterday.

The brie� ng was arranged after police res-cued nine-year-old Imtiazur Rahman Sazzad, son of Osman Gani, from Nakhon Chari area near the border with Myanmar in Teknaf on Tuesday night.

Sazzad was kidnapped by a gang of Ro-hingyas from Chittagong’s Satkania upazila on October 13.

Police also arrested three Rohingyas - Dudu Miah, 26, his brother Khuilla Miah, 36, and Abul Hashem, 25 - from Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar on the night they rescued Sazzad, said ASP Naimul, adding that the trio hail from Myanmar’s Maungdaw.

He said another Rohingya man Nur Alam abducted Sazzad from the boy’s house in Sat-kania’s Rasulabad area and took the victim near Myanmar border.

Sazzad’s family lodged a case with Satka-nia police station against Nur Alam and three others a day after he was kidnapped.

A team of Satkania police raided several areas in Ukhiya and Teknaf and arrested the three men, said ASP Naimul.

“Based on information given by the de-tainees, police raided a hilly area in Tambu, which is near the Myanmar border in Teknaf, and rescued Sazzad from there. But Nur Alam and another kidnapper � ed after sensing the presence of police.”

The police o� cial said the Rohingyas get along with locals easily and later commit crimes.

“Police are investigating the matter and are also trying to detain the other accused of the case � led over Sazzad’s abduction,” he added.

Amnesty: Trafficking to resume in South AsiaMeanwhile, Amnesty International warned yesterday that human tra� ckers would re-sume their brutal trade across Southeast Asia despite a regional crackdown.

It said crackdown and promises by region-al governments to address the crisis have done little to dismantle criminal networks.

“There’s another disaster looming on the Andaman Sea unless governments act ur-gently,” Anna Shea, refugee researcher at Amnesty International, said. l

HC asks EC to accept Kader Siddique’s nominationn UNB

The High Court yesterday asked the Election Commission to accept the nomination paper of Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) pres-ident Abdul Kader Siddique.

An HC vacation bench comprising Justice Miftah Uddin Chowdhury and Justice Qazi M Ejaharul Haque Akand passed the order in the morning after a hearing on a writ petition � led by Kader Siddique challenging the can-cellation of his nomination.

The bench also stayed the cancellation or-ders of Kader Siddique’s nomination, issued

by the Chief Election Commissioner and re-turning o� cer, said Barrister Raghib Rauf Chowdhury, a lawyer for Kader Siddique.

Talking to reporters emerging from the court, the KSJL chief said he has got justice from the High Court. “I moved the High Court as I believe in the rule of law, and I’ve got jus-tice. Now I want to get back to people,” he said.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said they will appeal against the HC decision.

Earlier on October 20, Kader Siddique � led the writ petition with the HC challenging the legality of the cancellation of his nomination to contest the Tangail 4 by-polls. l

PARTLY CLOUDY

Hindus gather at Ramkrishna Mission in the capital for Kumari Puja yesterday, also the eighth day of Durga Puja which is known as Astami MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015News6D

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Four more witnesses testify against Khaledan Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Four more prosecution witnesses testi� ed yesterday before the court against BNP Chair-person Khaleda Zia and three others testi� ed in the Zia Charitable Trust case.

Judge Abu Ahmad Jamadar of Dhaka Spe-cial Judge’s Court-3 recorded the depositions of the four witnesses and adjourned trial pro-ceedings till October 29 for the next hearing in the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust cases.

Both cases are being tried at the makeshift court set up amid tight security at the Cen-tral Jail parade grounds in Bakshibazar of the capital.

The four witnesses are Walid Ahmed, a cashier of the Sonali Bank Cantonment branch, Mamun-uz-Zaman, senior o� cer of the Kushtia branch of Shahjalal Islami Bank, Saiful Islam, former senior o� cer of Metro Makers and Developers Ltd, and Chowdhury

MN Alam, Assistant Director of the Anti-Cor-ruption Commission (ACC).

Aside from them, the court also recorded the depositions of 17 out of 36 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant of the

case, Harun-ur-Rashid, an ACC deputy direc-tor in the Zia Charitable Trust case.

Defence counsels cross-examined three prosecution witnesses, Noshad Mahmud, Amirul Islam and Alok Kanti Chakraborty, all of whom had been posted as o� cials in the Motijheel branch of Standard Chartered Bank

on September 29, 2011, before recording their depositions.

Khaleda’s counsel Abdur Razzak Khan and defence lawyers Aminul Islam and TM Akbar Hossain cross-examined the three men from 10:35am to 11:10am yesterday. They had tes-ti� ed before the court on October 15.

At the beginning of yesterday’s hearing, Khaleda’s lawyer Md Sanaullah Miah � led two separate petitions for her non-appear-ance in the cases.

In the petitions, the defence counsels stat-ed that the BNP chief could not appear before the court as she is abroad for treatment. The court accepted the petitions.

On March 19, 2014, the special judges’ court framed charges against Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, among nine accused in the cases, while the court started recording depositions of witnesses on September 22 the same year in two graft cases.

Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rah-

man, BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s nephew Mominur Rahman, Khaleda’s former princi-pal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, BNP’s former lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed are ac-cused in the Zia Orphanage Trust case.

The three other accused are Harris Chow-dhury, Khaleda’s former political secretary, Ziaul Islam Munna, the assistant private secretary (APS) of Harris, and Monirul Islam Khan, the APS of former DCC mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

On July 3, 2008, the ACC � led the Zia Or-phanage Trust graft case with Ramna police station for the embezzlement of over Tk2.1 crore through the formation of a “fake” trust which existed only on paper.

The anti-graft watchdog � led another case with Tejgaon police station on August 8, 2011 accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in setting up the Zia Chari-table Trust. l

Three bodies recovered in cityn Tribune Report

Police recovered three bodies yesterday from di� erent areas of the capital. The motives behind the deaths have not yet been ascertained.

In Vatara of the capital, police recov-ered from a hotel room yesterday morn-ing the body of 25-year-old Kawsar Hos-sain, the son of Hasibul Hossain, from Chuadanga.

Police said, according to the register, he had rented the room the day before. Yet, a relative of the deceased said Ka-wser had called her four or � ve days ago, and said he had come to the city in search of a job and would visit her after completing this task.

Inspector (investigation) of Vatara police station said Kawser had rented the room with a sex worker. Around 4am yesterday, he went to the washroom when the woman heard a noise coming from inside that room.

She immediately informed the hotel boy and, on breaking down the door, they found Kawser lying in the washroom. Hotel management then informed the

police who recovered the body around 7:45am. After his aunt, Nazma Akhter, ar-rived at the spot and identi� ed his body, the police sent the body for autopsy.

Nazma told the Dhaka Tribune that Kawser had indeed called her four days ago, and said he had come to Dhaka to look for work and would see her after he was done.

She said Kawser’s older brother Go-lam Kibria would come to the city that night and take the body along with him. She, however, could not con� rm if a case would be � led with the police station.

Police said they were waiting for the autopsy report, and steps would be tak-en once the case is � led. The sex worker was also placed under custody, they said.

Meanwhile, Jatrabari police recov-ered the body of a furniture worker early yesterday.

The worker was Mohammad Ajij, 24. His body was found by co-workers when they opened the shop.

Ajij worked at Shikder Furniture on Dholpur road of Jatrabari.

Sub-Inspector of the police station Ja-kirul Islam said his killers had locked the

door from the outside after murdering him. His bloodied body was found inside the shop.

Police said they were questioning the owner and other employees because the gate was locked from the outside.

No case was � led till yesterday and the body was sent to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital for autopsy, police said.

Meanwhile, a body was found in the o� ce of the Janaseba and Padma Line, two local bus companies running on the Dhaka-Aricha road of Dhaka district.

Police recovered the body of Sabuj, 40, around 10:30 am.

Sub-Inspector Titu Sarker of Darus Salam police station said the collapsible gate to the o� ce building was locked from the outside, and the door of the room where the body was found was unlocked.

Besides, it would also be possible for anyone to get into the room by climbing the trees next to the o� ce.

The SI said more than one person had hit Sabuj on the head and face with bricks and killed him.

The body was sent to DMCH for au-topsy, the o� cial said. l

Parimal claims his innocence in Viqarunnisa student rape casen Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Parimal, a teacher sacked from Viqarun-nisa Noon School and College, pleaded not guilty yesterday and demanded jus-tice in a case � led against him on charges of raping his female student.

The accused claimed he is innocent after Judge Saleh Uddin Ahmed of Dha-ka Women and Children Repression (Prevention) Tribunal-4 read out charg-es brought against him by prosecution witnesses in the case.

Following the claim by Parimal, the tribunal judge � xed November 1 to hear

arguments in the case. Public Prosecutor Muhammad For-

kan Miah said: “The tribunal has record-ed the depositions of 28 witnesses out of 39 in the rape case.”

In the case, Parimal Jaydhar, a teacher at the Bashundhara branch of the school, con� ned and raped his student at his pri-vate coaching centre on May 28, 2011.

He recorded the incident on his cell phone, and on June 17, blackmailed her with it into raping her again.

The girl then complained to the author-ities against Parimal about the incident.

But Hosne Ara, who was then princi-

pal of the school, and Lutfur Rahman, who was acting head of Viqarunnisa’s Bashundhara Branch school unit, tried to cover it up in order to save him.

On July 5, the girl’s father � led a case with Badda police against Parimal, Ara, and Lutfur. The next day, Parimal was arrested. Investigation o� cer Shahdat charged them on August 14.

On November 28, the Detective Branch police inspector submitted a sup-plementary charge sheet against Parimal, dropping the name of Ara and Lutfur.

Parimal was indicted on rape charges on March 7 the following year. l

Trial proceedings are adjourned till October 29 for the next hearing in the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust cases

INSIDE

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Uproar in India after two Dalit kids burned alivePolice in northern India have arrested four men over allegations that they burnt alive two low-caste, commonly known as Dalit, children, an o� cial said on Wednesday, a case that triggered a street protest and drew condemnation from an opposition leader.

PAGE 8

China takes one-third stake in UK nuclear projectChina vowed Wednesday to � nance one third of Britain’s � rst nuclear power plant in decades in a project led by French energy giant EDF con� rmed on the second day of President Xi Jinping’s state visit. PAGE 9

Texas ‘clock teen’ moving to Qatar with full scholarshipThe Texas boy arrested for bringing to school a homemade clock that was mistaken for a bomb is moving to Qatar, his family said on Tuesday, a few hours after he was at the White House for an astronomy night hosted by President Barack Obama.

PAGE 10

Human tra� ckers explore new routes to Malaysia after Thai crackdownn Thomson Reuters Foundation,

Bangkok

Human tra� ckers are exploring new routes to Malaysia after a crackdown on tra� cking in Thailand with no large migrant boat de-partures from Myanmar and Bangladesh in nearly six months, aid agencies said.

Rising numbers of Rohingya Muslims � eeing persecution were setting o� from Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state and Bangladesh in small boats and transferring to larger boats that could carry more than 1,000 people each.

But a Thai crackdown on human traf-� ckers in May halted journeys by large smuggling boats across the Bay of Bengal to Thailand and Malaysia with activists only hearing uncon� rmed rumours of a few small boats.

Aid agencies, however, fear the halt in sea crossings does not indicate an end to people tra� cking but means smuggling gangs are exploring new routes.

“We don’t see new ones, but we know dif-ferent routes are being studied so they don’t have to be moved by boat,” said Chris Lewa, founder of the Arakan Project, a rights pro-ject focusing on the Rohingya.

“Some boats may leave, but there is de� -nitely a strong impact of the Thai crackdown ... The kind of movement and recruitment happening last year is not happening this year. It’s a lot more clandestine.”

Lewa said new routes could be by air or overland and aid workers were now moni-toring the area to identify the shift.

The United Nations refugee agency (UN-HCR) had warned that “the number of peo-ple leaving on smugglers’ boats in the Bay of Bengal has increased in recent years, and that trend is likely to continue unless the root causes are addressed,”

Halt in boat departuresThroughout 2013 and 2014, activists tallied at least 1,000 people - and often several thousand - leaving each month from Rakh-ine state and Bangladesh.

The number peaked a year ago this month

at more than 13,000 people, but stopped in May amid a boat crisis and the Thai crackdown.

“There have been zero since May,” said Je� Labovitz, who heads the regional of-� ce of the International Organization for Migration. “There has been a fundamental change. There are no more big boats sailing.”

But aid workers say the demand is still there.The persecution of the stateless Rohing-

ya in Myanmar has worsened this year and elections next month may bring in a new, hardline Buddhist party which may treat them still more harshly.

Communal clashes in 2012 in Rakhine state forced 140,000 Rohingya from their homes, and many are virtual prisoners in camps or in segregated villages, subject to

restrictions on travel and, in some areas, ac-cess to healthcare and education.

In February the Rohingya were granted temporary “white card” identi� cation cards so they could take part in the Nov. 8 elec-tion, but after Buddhist protests the govern-ment revoked the cards, e� ectively denying Rohingya the right to vote.

“They are politically disenfranchised. The situation in Rakhine is worse than a year ago,” Lewa said. “The push factor is stronger than last year, but the open door to Thailand now seems to be closed.”

The Thai coast - not far from popular tourist areas - was a disembarkation point for many Rohingya smuggled by boat. They were then taken further south and over a porous border into Malaysia.

However, tra� ckers began diverting mi-grants to secret camps near the Thai-Malaysia border, holding them for ransom and killing and torturing those whose families could not pay up. Others died of disease and neglect.

After the discovery in May of dozens of graves on the Thai-Malaysia border, smug-glers abandoned thousands of migrants at sea to avoid being caught by Thai and Ma-laysian investigators.

Julia Mayerhofer, interim executive di-rector of the Asia Paci� c Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), said the root cause of discontent was still there in Myanmar.

Amnesty International, which released a report on Wednesday about the region’s tra� cking crisis, pressed Myanmar to stop violence against the Rohingya by state se-curity forces, and to amend its laws to grant the Rohingya citizenship. l

Economic migrants are seen aboard a boat tethered to a Thai navy vessel, in waters near Koh Lipe island on May 16 REUTERS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015World8D

T

SOUTH ASIA Pakistan clerics: Women not required to cover facesPakistan’s top religious body has said women are not required to cover their faces, hands or feet under Islamic Sharia law, a rare judgement from the conservative council of clerics seen as “encouraging” by rights activists Tuesday. The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), which was formed in 1962 to advise parliament on the compatibility of laws with Sharia, made the ruling during its meeting on Monday. -AFP

ASIA PACIFICBizarre Philippine shooting kills Chinese diplomatic sta� The husband of a woman working at a Chinese consulate in the Philippines shot dead the deputy consul general and a senior sta� member at a birth-day lunch on Wednesday and wounded the consul general, police said. In a bizarre drama police have yet to unravel, waiters at a popular Filipino-food restaurant in the central city of Cebu said they heard shouting from a private room but could not under-stand what the argument was about, o� cers said. Minutes later they heard gunshots. Consul General Song Ronghua was rushed to hospital, -REUTERS

MIDDLE EASTAssad in Moscow to thank Putin Syrian President Bashar al-Assad � ew to Moscow on Tuesday evening to thank Russia’s Vladimir Putin personally for his military support. It was Assad’s � rst foreign visit since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011, and came three weeks after Russia launched a cam-paign of air strikes against Islamist militants in Syria that has also bolstered Assad’s forces. The Kremlin, which said it had invited Assad to visit Moscow, kept the visit quiet until Wednesday morning, -REUTERS

Khamenei endorses nuclear dealIran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei explicitly endorsed a nuclear deal with world powers for the � rst time Wednesday, but warned his president it contained weaknesses that must be guarded against. Khamenei had never before said openly that he backed the diplomacy, nor had he said he was against it. -AFP

INDIAShiv Sena: Malala always welcome in IndiaIndia’s hardliner fundamentalist group the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said it will always welcome child activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousufzai to India as she has stood up to terrorists. “I want to tell all peace makers in India that the Shiv Sena and Saamna has appreciated the e� orts and the struggle carried by Malala against terrorism in Pakistan. If Malala comes to India, Shiv Sena would also welcome her,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said in Mumbai. -TOI

CHINAChina premier talks football, wildlife with British royalsChinese President Xi Jinping talked football, wildlife protection and climate change when he met senior members of Britain’s royal family during a state visit to London, according to Chinese government. The Brit-ish royal family has had a mixed relationship with Chi-na over the years. Heir to the throne Prince Charles is close to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, while Charles and his son Prince William have expressed concern that Chinese demand for ivory is encouraging the poaching of elephants. -REUTERS

Uproar in India after two Dalit kids burned aliven Reuters, Ballabhgarh

Police in northern India have arrested four men over allegations that they burnt alive two low-caste, commonly known as Dalit, children, an o� cial said on Wednesday, a case that triggered a street protest and drew condemnation from an opposition leader.

Authorities ruled out caste violence as a motive for the crime but India has a long history of such incidents, and the attack will feed concerns over rising intolerance after the rumour-fuelled killing of a Muslim man by a Hindu mob recently. .

On Wednesday, two men carried the bod-ies of the dead children wrapped in white shrouds during a protest by about 1,000 people who blocked a major highway to the northern city of Agra, home to the Taj Mahal monument, and argued with police.

Police in the northern state of Haryana said a group of men killed the children, a girl of 8 months and her two-year-old brother, by setting alight gasoline poured through the windows of their home in Ballabhgarh dis-trict, about 50km from the capital, New Delhi.

The parents, who hail from the bottom rungs of India’s millennia-old social hierar-chy rooted in the Hindu religion, were also in-jured in the attack, a state police o� cial said.

The incident was a family feud and not related to caste violence, however, said Jawahar Yadav, an o� cial from the o� ce of Harayana’s chief minister.

“This is a � ght among families, not about castes. It is an unfortunate incident,” Yadav told television channel CNN-IBN.

The family has alleged it was attacked by men belonging to a higher caste, in revenge for separate killings a year ago, the state po-lice o� cer said, asking not to be named be-cause he was not authorised to discuss the case with the media.

Family members could not immediately be reached for comment. Indian Home Min-ister Rajnath Singh has asked the state gov-ernment for a report on the incident.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress party, visited the district and criti-cised federal and state o� cials for not mak-ing better e� orts to protect poor people.

Caste-related violence has gripped India for decades.

In August, clashes erupted in Prime Min-ister Narendra Modi’s western home state of Gujarat after police arrested a young leader of the in� uential Patel clan who organised a rally to demand more government jobs for his community.

Last month, a village council denied alle-gations that it ordered two young sisters to be raped because their brother eloped with a higher caste woman. The disavowal fol-lowed an international outcry triggered by the purported ruling. l

Indian social activists protest after the killing of children in an arson attack, in New Delhi on Wednesday AFP

INSIGHT

Dissident Afghan Taliban heads to choose rival leadern Reuters, Peshawar

Weeks after the Afghan Taliban’s biggest battle� eld success since 2001, dissident commanders unhappy with their new lead-er Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour are meeting to choose a rival.

Analysts say the recent brief occupation of the northern city of Kunduz has cement-ed Mansour’s power, boosting his reputa-tion among foot soldiers and causing the US government and Nato to slow plans for withdrawing their troops.

But in the opaque manoeuvring around the Taliban leadership, it is unclear whether the anti-Mansour faction will seek to chal-lenge him on the battle� eld, how many � ghters they control or how much money they have.

A leadership battle within the Taliban could create space for militants loyal to Is-lamic State to expand their foothold in the region, and could discourage Mansour from resuming Pakistan-backed peace talks with the Afghan government.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is push-ing for a negotiated settlement to the

14-year insurgency, which has escalated markedly since tens of thousands of Nato combat troops withdrew ahead of an end-2014 deadline.

The two sides held inaugural talks in Pa-kistan in July, but many commanders, in-cluding prominent dissident Mullah Abdul Qayum Zakir, opposed the process. It has since stalled.

Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi, a spokesman for the anti-Mansour faction, said a new leader would be chosen within days.

“There is one agenda, and that’s to choose the new emir (leader) unanimously and get rid of Mullah Mansour,” he said.

Niazi said the dissident commanders would not accept Mansour despite the Tal-iban’s brief occupation of Kunduz earlier this month, their most important military success since the US-led invasion toppled the Taliban government in 2001.

Just weeks after the peace talks, Man-sour was hastily appointed head of the Afghan Taliban when Kabul’s intelligence agency leaked news that Mullah Omar, the reclusive one-eyed founder of the Taliban, had been dead for more than two years. l

Netanyahu links late Muslim Mufti to Holocaustn Reuters, Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanya-hu provoked a Holocaust controversy on Wednesday, hours before a visit to Germany, by saying that the Muslim elder in Jerusalem during the 1940s convinced Adolf Hitler to exterminate the Jews.

In a speech to the Zionist Congress late on Tuesday, Netanyahu referred to a series of Muslim attacks on Jews in Palestine during the 1920s that he said were instigated by the then-Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini. Husseini famously � ew to visit Hitler in Berlin in 1941, and Netanyahu said that meeting was instrumental in the Nazi leader’s decision to launch a campaign to annihilate the Jews.

“Hitler didn’t want to exterminate the Jews at the time, he wanted to expel the Jews,” Netanyahu said in the speech. “And Haj Amin al-Husseini went to Hitler and said, ‘If you expel them, they’ll all come here (Pal-estine).’ “’So what should I do with them?’” Netanyahu said Hitler asked the mufti, who responded: “Burn them.”

Netanyahu, whose father was an eminent historian, was quickly harangued by opposition politicians and experts on the Holocaust who said he was distorting the historical record. l

New Saudi regime breaks beheading punishment recordn AFP, Riyadh

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday carried out its 136th execution this year, putting to death one of its citizens convicted of murder.

According to tallies, Mutlig al-Otaibi was the 136th Saudi or foreigner put to death by the kingdom this year, compared with 87 in 2014.

Otaibi had been found guilty of shooting dead a fellow Saudi because of an argument, the interior ministry said in a statement.

London-based Amnesty International says Saudi Arabia had the world’s third-highest num-ber of executions last year, far behind China and Iran, but ahead of Iraq and the United States.

Under the kingdom’s strict Islamic legal code, murder, drug tra� cking, armed robbery, rape and apostasy are all punishable by death.

The case of a Saudi youth facing execution for taking part in pro-reform protests has trig-gered particular international concern.

During a visit to Riyadh last week, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told reporters he “called for clemency” for Ali al-Nimr, a member

¡of the minority Shiite community on death row.Nimr was just 17 when arrested in February

2012. l

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015World 9

DT

USAPaul Ryan to run for speaker if Republican agree to requestsUS Representative Paul Ryan said on Tuesday he would be happy to seek the speakership of the House of Representatives if his fellow Republicans agree to his requests for working together. Ryan said he never wanted the top job in the House but had concluded the country was in “dire need” of leadership. -REUTERS

US leads industrialised nations in shift from coalThe US is leading a shift away from using coal among leading industrialised democracies, with Japan the main laggard in policies that will help to combat climate change, according to a study on Wednesday. -REUTERS

THE AMERICASChileans get ready to celebrate � rst same-sex civil unionsHundreds of same-sex couples in Chile will head to registry o� ces this week to celebrate civil unions, which become legal for the � rst time in the country on Thursday. Chile does not yet allow full marriage but securing same-sex civil unions in one of the region’s more conservative countries was a victory for activists, and a joy to people like Roxana Ortiz. She will be one of the � rst to take advantage of the new law when she celebrates a civil union with her Spanish partner Virgina Gomez. -REUTERS

UKCameron: Deals with China total around £40bn Britain and China have signed deals worth around £40bn ($62bn), Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday during a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. “One of the foremost elements of this visit is the huge number of commercial deals that we are signing, totalling almost £40bn,” he told business leaders. -REUTERS

EUROPEEC chief calls EU-Balkans mini-summit on refugeesEuropean Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has invited eight EU leaders and their Serbian and Macedonian counterparts to Brussels on Sunday to tackle the migrant crisis along the western Balkans route, his o� ce said Wednesday. The eight leaders from the 28-nation European Union who are invited to the mini summit are those from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia. EU sources said a mini rather than a full summit was called because it will tackle operational issues in the Balkans. -AFP

AFRICAPolice � re rubber bullets, stun grenades at South Africa student protestersSouth African riot police � red rubber bullets and stun grenades on Wednesday at hundreds of protesting students who stormed the parliament precinct in Cape Town to try to disrupt the reading of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene’s interim budget. The speech was delayed by 45 minutes as MPs from the opposi-tion Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party raised multiple questions of order, arguing the budget should be delayed because of student protests over a hike in tuition fees. Scu� es broke out as parlia-mentary security guards were eventually called in to remove the EFF members by force. -REUTERS

China takes one-third stake in UK nuclear projectn AFP, London

China vowed Wednesday to take a one-third stake in Britain’s � rst nuclear power plant in decades in a project led by French energy gi-ant EDF, on the second day of President Xi Jinping’s business-themed state visit.

EDF announced the blockbuster deal, signed in the presence of Xi and British Prime Minister David Cameron, in a state-ment as London rolled out the red carpet to woo Chinese investors.

The agreement for the gigantic pro-ject, whose construction costs total £18bn ($28bn), is expected to be � nalised in the next few weeks.

“We’re signing an historic deal to build the Hinkley nuclear power station,” Camer-on said at a joint press conference with Xi at Downing Street.

The French utility will construct two European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs), a third-generation nuclear reactor design con-sidered the most advanced and safest in the world, at the Hinkley Point C plant in Somer-set, southwestern England.

Beijing’s state-run China General Nuclear Corporation (CGN) will � nance £6 billion of the construction costs, with EDF providing the remainder, according to the statement.

“We have all the conditions now in place, subject to � nal investment approval in the next few weeks, to go ahead with the project,” said Vincent de Rivaz, head of EDF’s British divi-sion, in a telephone conference to journalists.

EDF is the lead contractor with an initial stake of 66.5%-- which could fall to 50% if other investors are brought on board -- while CGN has the remaining 33.5%.

The Hinkley facility will not be oper-ational until 2025 -- two years later than

originally planned when the deal was � rst unveiled two years ago.

The pair also reached agreement on a partnership to develop nuclear power sta-tions at Sizewell, on the eastern English coast in Su� olk, and at Bradwell in Essex, southeastern England.

Britain has placed nuclear at the core of its low-carbon energy policy, in contrast to eurozone powerhouse Germany, which has pledged to phase out nuclear power after Ja-pan’s 2011 Fukushima disaster.

“Today’s announcement means that Hin-kley Point is going ahead,” added de Rivaz.

The Hinkley project would create over

25,000 jobs and power six million homes, according to Britain’s Department of Energy and Climate Change.

High costs?British opponents of Hinkley complain about the high building costs and the time it will take to generate power, as well as the guaranteed agreed electricity price of £92 per megawatt hour over 35 years.

“Hinkley Point C is likely to be the most expensive power station ever built any-where,” said Lisa Nandy, energy and climate change spokeswoman for the opposition La-bour party. l

7%of UK’s electricity enough for over

5m homes

€100m contribution annually to the local economy during peak construction or €2bn during project lifetime

9000000 tonnes (oapproximately) of CO2 avoided each year, equivalent to roughly 2m cars

1995 Last time UK opened a new nuclear power station

3.2 Gigawatt power plant with two reactors

25,000 new employment opportunities created during construction

Hinkley nuclear power project

M Razon / Dhaka Tribune

EU conservatives call to strengthen bloc’s bordersn AFP, Madrid

European Union conservative parties on Wednesday called for the strengthening of the bloc’s external borders, warning the � ow of migrants could “destabilise” the region if it continues.

“We cannot accept millions and mil-lions more people which we would not know how to manage, and which would destabilise many countries and regions,” said Joseph Daul, chairman of the European Peo-ple’s Party (EPP) which groups conservative parties from across the EU.

Among its members are the ruling parties of several nations at the heart of the crisis such as Germany’s Christian Democratic Un-ion (CDU), Hungary’s Fidesz party and Bul-garia’s GERB.

The EPP congress is expected to adopt a four-page resolution on Wednesday night that calls for improvements in the reception of migrants but also demands the strengthening of the EU’s external borders. l

World10DT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Texas ‘clock teen’ moving to Qatar with full scholarshipn Reuters, Dallas

The Texas boy arrested for bringing to school a homemade clock that was mistaken for a bomb is moving to Qatar, his family said on Tuesday, a few hours after he was at the White House for an astronomy night hosted by President Barack Obama.

Ahmed Mohamed, 14, a bespectacled ninth-grader who became an Internet sen-sation for an arrest that supporters said was in� uenced by bias against his Muslim reli-gion, has accepted an o� er from the Qatar Foundation to study at its Young Innovators Programme.

“This means, that we, as a family, will relo-cate to Qatar where Ahmed will receive a full scholarship for secondary and undergraduate education,” his family said in a statement.

The teenager, who dabbles in robotics and had attended a Dallas-area high school, has basked in celebrity status since his arrest in September. The family has been traveling the globe to meet dignitaries.

After Mohamed was seen in a Nasa T-shirt in handcu� s, the Twitter hashtag #IStandWith-Ahmed trended globally and was cited in praise from Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Face-book Chief Executive O� cer Mark Zuckerberg, who said: “Having the skill and ambition to build something cool should lead to applause, not arrest.” No charges were � led and police in the Dallas suburb of Irving said in September they were reviewing their actions in the case..

At the White House on Monday night, Oba-ma brie� y met Mohamed as he shook hands with students at the event, giving the student a hug. l

INSIDE

We support this week’s move to double the salaries of senior government and state o� cials, including ministers and High Court judges.

It is irrational to criticise the increase to the prime minister’s monthly salary from Tk58,600 to Tk115,000 and that of the president to Tk120,000 from the current Tk61,200.

These changes are in line with the cabinet’s approval of the long-awaited Eighth Pay Scale for public servants agreed last month, which will be increasing salaries for 1.4 million government employees between 91% to 101% in the coming year.

As in� ation has averaged over 7% during the six and half years since the last such award, the pay commission was right to recommend this increase, which only belatedly acknowledges rises in the cost of living.

It goes without saying that the salaries of the government’s most senior o� cials remain low, not only in comparison to other countries, but also in relation to Bangladesh’s private sector.

No public bene� t is served through selective outrage about the salary increases for the country’s top leaders when their pay hike is in line with the budgeted increase for all government employees.

More broadly, a mature public debate is needed on public servants’ pay in general.

Over the last � ve decades, civil servants’ pay has declined signi� cantly relative to prices and private sector pay growth, while instances of corruption in the public sector have grown. During the same period, countries such as Singapore have achieved huge success in rooting out institutionalised corruption by making civil servants pay, including that of political leaders, more competitive with the private sector.

This has also signi� cantly improved service delivery by enabling their government to attract and retain better motivated and higher quality civil servants.

Within the constraints of public � nances, we believe it is in the interests of the tax-payer to consider a similar approach, as part of a move to taking a more rational and systematic approach to public pay awards.

As a minimum, the government should ask the commission to review salary rates at least every two years and to adopt a formula linking salary increases to changes in in� ation and improvements in productivity and revenue gains.

Everyone can bene� t by adopting a rational evidence-based approach to civil servants’ pay to help improve planning and delivery of public services.

Public servants’ pay deserves more mature evidence-based debate

Knocking on Delhi’s door

Parenting failWhat was a 16-year-old doing with the SUV in the � rst place? Where was the parental control? Where have the age-old parenting tactics gone, where my father did not even hand me the keys until I was 18? How was a 16-year-old even bold enough to feel he could walk out with his father’s car under his parents’ noses?

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PAGE 14

A matter of religious dutyThe huge funds that the oil-producers possess are usually invested into the developed world, when investment in the developing world could well give better returns and certainly a better conscience

After walking through the alleys of Delhi’s powerhouses for three consecutive days last week, speaking privately with BJP politicians, and representatives of its opposition Congress, and by discussing certain issues with Indian policy-makers, I can tell that they are not taking Bangladesh lightly anymore

Paying public servants more makes sense

11D

TEditorialTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

BIGSTOCK

Opinion12DT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

n Murad Qureshi

It was welcome news to hear in Se ptem-ber an Islamic call on rich countries and oil producing nations to end fossil fuel use by 2050 with the Islamic Climate

Declaration in Istanbul.But how will the Organisation of the

Islamic Conference (OIC) take a lead in combating climate change, and in supporting countries like Bangladesh that are � ghting the consequences of global warming, even though they make little contribution to its causes? Up till now, the OIC’s record on this has been poor.

A 2007 study concluded that the rich Arab states in the OIC had been reluctant to take a lead on addressing climate change: “… e� orts by wealthier Muslim states are imbalanced, with many of them doing very little and not acknowledging the urgency of the issue. Saudi Arabia, who holds most of the purse strings of the OIC, has long been a sceptic of climate change.”

Indeed, the response of Saudi Arabia’s lead climate change negotiator at the last signi� cant COP meeting in Copenhagen, Mo-hammad Al-Sabban, said it all. In response to the leaked emails from the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit, he said: “It appears from the details of the scandal that there is no relationship whatsoever between human activities and climate change.”

If we also look at annual CO2 emissions per capita in the Gulf states (International Energy Agency � gures for 2007), it is imme-diately apparent that the � gures are much worse than even for the United States, which is usually seen as the villain of the piece.

For example, Qatar’s annual emissions stand at 58.01 tonnes per capita, the United Arab Emirates’ at 29.91 tonnes per capita, Bahrain’s at 28.23, and Kuwait’s at 25.09 tonnes per capita, whereas the � gure for USA is 19.10 tonnes per capita

These emissions are even more aston-ishing when compared with the � gure for Bangladesh, which stands at 0.25 tonnes per capita. It does make you wonder what is quite happening in these rich Arab Gulf states that they are releasing such huge amounts of CO2 emissions.

As for discussions on climate change amongst the Arab states, here again the problem is the reluctance of the ruling elites in oil-rich countries to support any measures that might reduce demand for oil and petrol. This, despite the fact that the Middle East is particularly vulnerable to rising temper-atures, with vast areas of agricultural land between Egypt and Iraq expected to lose fertility as a result of global warming.

A UN Population Fund (UNFPA) report on climate change in Cairo pointed out that 15% of people in the Arab world already have limited or no access to potable water and that water scarcity induced by climate change was expected to cut food production in the region by half.

They called for more co-operation be-tween the Arab League, UNFPA, and Arab

NGOs to help governments draw up appropri-ate policies.

The Lebanon-based Arab Forum for Envi-ronment and Development (AFED) criticised the near complete lack of research data on climate change in Arab countries and called on Arab nations to immediately draw up adaptation and mitigation plans. One of the authors stated that “we have no data about

the e� ects the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere will have on our coastal zones, even though we know they are very vulnerable,” adding that this makes creating plans to reduce risks from climate change di� cult.

Not surprisingly, we have come to expect very little from the OIC in such global envi-

ronmental summits where the negotiations on behalf of the developing world are under-taken by the G77 plus China. We hear much talk about the importance of the ummah as the basis for international unity among Mus-lims, but the oil-rich states have so far shown little sense of unity with their co-religionists over as critical an issue for mankind as cli-mate change and global warming.

In addition to the conference of the parties reaching an agreement on limiting global warming to 2C over pre-industrial levels, the other bone of contention at the Paris Summit is clearly money. That is, how much wealthy countries will be paying poor ones to help them deal with climate change. Given the huge sovereign funds that many

of the oil-rich Muslim-majority states are sitting on, derived essentially from the sale of hydrocarbons, and given that the burning of these fuels makes a major contribution to greenhouse gases, you might think the oil producers would feel some moral obligation to the nations who su� er the consequences of global warming.

Moreover, at present, the huge funds that the oil-producers possess are usually invest-ed into property and assets in the developed world, when investment in the developing world in green industries and the low carbon economy could well give better returns and certainly a better conscience.

Now, that is not too much of a grand idea for all those funds standing idle in bank accounts in the world’s major cities. In the meantime, some zakat to those on the front line of climate change in countries like the Maldives and Bangladesh is surely not too much to ask.

So the jury is out on whether the OIC will take the theological lead, given by the partici-pants of the Islamic Climate Declaration in Istanbul, that the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims have a religious duty to � ght climate change, as the words of the Qur’an tell us: “Not to strut arrogantly on the Earth.” l

Murad Qureshi is an elected member of the Greater London Assembly.

The huge funds that the oil-producers possess are usually invested into property and assets in the developed world, when investment in the developing world in green industries and the low carbon economy could well give better returns and certainly a better conscience

A matter of religious dutyThe Middle East, despite being one of the worst culprits of CO2 emissions, contributeslittle in the � ght against climate change

It is almost a religious duty to � ght global warming BIGSTOCK

Opinion 13D

TTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

n Briarose Marguerite Deirdre D’Silva

The boy’s name is no longer a name out of a list. It is a name that has made everyone in this country question our collective parenting

skills. Not too long ago, a spoilt, bratty 16-year-old boy took his rich father’s SUV out for a spin, clearly with little regard for tra� c rules and the lives of the people on the roads.

Let’s rewind a bit and think harder on this subject: Is this news anything new for us? Are we really shocked that such an event occurred? Or does it sound all too familiar?

He was not born a bad human being with

absolute disregard for the sanctity of life. He was not born knowing right from wrong. One learns these things, grows into them. Up until our teens, we are walked through life, through the various ideologies that ex-ist. And that is exactly what has happened to this boy: He was raised to be this murderous little juvenile criminal that we know him to be today.

I have given 10 years of my life as a pri-vate tutor while studying journalism in In-dependent University, Bangladesh, and have had the opportunity to take a closer look at the tactics used to raise children these days. As a teacher, as a journalist, and as a human being, I was not impressed.

I was not impressed to know that parents these days have crawled into self-centred shells so that their children end up being products of their own bad re� ections. The term “helicopter parents” is very much ap-plicable in a world where parents hand their 16-year-old the car keys, feeling it right to do so, and proud of it.

They are so absorbed in the security of their children, or so absorbed in their own personal space, that either their children are neglected or turn out to be spoilt brats.

Innocent people are losing their lives to spoilt kids who are being raised to be even more careless and clueless people. When I read about this incident, the � rst question that struck me was: What was a 16-year-old

doing with the SUV in the � rst place?Where was the parental control? Where

have the age-old parenting tactics gone, where my father did not even hand me the keys to the car under any circumstances until I passed my own driving test when or after I was 18? How was a 16-year-old even bold enough to feel he could walk out with his father’s car under his parents’ noses? Where has this arrogance come from?

In the next 14 days, the court has ordered the police to start proceedings as a case has been � led against the boy under public in-terest litigation. It is about time society took a second look at the parenting skills that fuel such unfortunate yet avoidable tragedies.

Let us raise conscious citizens instead of these “brats.” We owe it to the country we live in, because our country is made up of us, and if we fall behind in building it, no-body else will do it for us. The government is there because of us; we can do for the country much more than what any govern-ment can.

We can raise better human beings. We can’t blame the government for distasteful humans. Parents have themselves to blame when their 16-year-old takes their car and runs over innocent people. Let’s not raise any more like him. l

Briarose Marguerite Deirdre D’Silva is a freelance contributor.

Parenting fail

Kids learn from their parents BIGSTOCK

Poor parenting must be blamed for the recent accident involving an SUV and two rickshaws

What was a 16-year-old doing with the SUV in the � rst place? Where was the parental control? Where have the age-old parenting tactics gone, where my father did not even hand me the keys until I was 18? How was a 16-year-old even bold enough to feel he could walk out with his father’s car under his parents’ noses?

Long Form14DT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

n Zulfi qer Russell

“Will there be any substan-tial bene� t for us if an election was to be held in Bangladesh now at

this moment? Why should we want an inter-im election there?”

I cannot disclose the identity of the person who told me that, but I do have the liberty to say he is a very powerful leader of BJP, the ruling party in India. He is con-cerned with “Bangladesh a� airs” regarding the Indian government, regularly commu-nicating with the politicians of Dhaka and giving input to his country’s government on a regular basis.

When I asked him about India’s concerns about a possible interim election here in Bangladesh, he gave me that reply.

An exciting discussion was underway at the well-furnished house of the BJP leader in question, situated in the posh area of South Delhi. He was answering any and all questions regarding India-Bangladesh rela-tions, but on one condition: The exchange must be kept o� the record, and he must not be quoted.

I have no intention of disclosing his iden-tity, but my eyes have been opened after I learned about the attitude of Indian politi-cians towards Bangladesh and Bangladeshis.

After walking through the alleys of Delhi’s powerhouses for three consecutive days last week, speaking privately with BJP politicians, and representatives of its oppo-sition, Congress, and by discussing certain issues with Indian policy-makers, I can tell that they are not taking Bangladesh lightly anymore. They now have a better sense

of the dynamics of Bangladesh’s internal politics, the presence of Islamist extremists, and the opulence of the existing militant groups, which have made some impact on the other side of the border. They have also taken measures for the ongoing situation accordingly.

There are murmurs of an interim election in Bangladesh being an inevitability, quite soon. Some speculate that there are pres-sures for such from Western countries. I asked him if India has any role to play here. The very � rst sentence is what I received as an answer to this question.

India thinks Prime Minister Sheikh Hasi-na’s government should � nish its � ve-year tenure, but it also thinks that the election from January 5, 2014 cannot be considered a standard election, but also that no one can cry foul about it being unconstitutional.

Bangladesh is in a stable condition at the moment, with the frequency of political vio-lence having decreased. Moreover, they feel that Bangladesh is currently in the hands

of an ally of India. According to the BJP, the ruling AL is “tried and tested,” having passed the important exam of friendship. Delhi does not see any purpose in making things turbulent before the scheduled elec-tion of 2019, no matter the pressure from the US or the UK. 

Is the Teesta agreement likely to happen in the near future?Straight answer: There is no chance of any progress on the Teesta agreement be-fore West Bengal’s Bidhanshava election, scheduled for 2016. Nothing can be done on Teesta … for now.

The reason is pretty clear as well: Ms Mamata Banerjee. Sacri� cing the interests of the state by signing some international treaty before the election, the chief minister is not willing to send such a message to her people.

BJP is not going to make the same mis-take the previous government of Manmohan Singh made, as Singh’s government tried to push the Teesta agreement, bypassing West Bengal.

Is there something “fishy” going on between the BJP and Bangladesh’s BNP?BJP leaders will surely deny any such speculation, but it’s not too much of aleap to assume that some sort ofconnection does exist between thesetwo parties.

A senior minister of BJP said: “The relationship which should be kept between the opposition party of the neighbouring country with the ruling party of India -- the same is the case with the BJP and the BNP. No more, no less.” 

Actually, the relationship between BNP and India was ruined during the Congress period. One of the reasons could be the strong family bonding and personal relations between Sheikh Hasina and with the Gandhi family.

Over the last few years, Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi were able to foster a smooth relationship, but Mr Modi also believes that it would not be a wise decision to completely sever ties with Bangladesh’s prime opposition party.

“We should not ignore the fact thatBNP also may come to power some day. So, let’s not put all the eggs in one basket.And, as we want BNP to shun Jamaat-e-Islami, we must try to convince them to do that through maintaining a good relationship with them,” said a senior leader from BJP.

The reality is, even in 2015, elements of uncertainty and doubt remain regarding India-Bangladesh matters. l

Zul� qer Russell is Executive Editor of Bangla Tribune. The second part of this long form will be published tomorrow.

Knocking on Delhi’s door

Bangladesh has the Indian polity’s attention REUTERS

What India has to say about Bangladesh may surprise you. This is the � rst part of a two-part long form

After walking through the alleys of Delhi’s powerhouses for three consecutive days last week, speaking privately with BJP politicians, and representatives of its opposition Congress, and by discussing certain issues with Indian policy-makers, I can tell that they are not taking Bangladesh lightly anymore

15D

TBusinessINSIDE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Bangabandhu satellite project to face compensation if deadline missed If the country’s � rst-ever Bangabandhu satellite project missed its installation dead-line, it will have to pay compensation as per a hefty provision. PAGE 17

WB report: Foreign trade critical to create jobsFor Bangladesh, international and regional trade, especially with South and East Asian neighbors, is critical to create more and bet-ter jobs for the 2m youths entering the labour force every year, says a new World Bank study. PAGE 16

IMF: Gulf should adjust to new oil price ‘reality’Gulf economies need to adjust to the “new reality” of oil prices expected to remain low for some time, the International Monetary Fund says, recommending spending cuts and income diversi� cation. PAGE 18

Capital Market Snapshot: MondayDSE

Broad Index 4,647.7 -0.2% ▼

Index 1,113.2 -0.2% ▼

30 Index 1,762.6 -0.2% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk 3,561.8 5.0% ▲

Turnover in Mn Volume 105.0 16.0% ▲

CSEAll Share Index 14,197.2 -0.2% ▼

30 Index 12,509.7 -0.5% ▼

Selected Index 8,636.6 -0.2% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk 306.3 2.5% ▲

Turnover in Mn Volume 8.4 -3.3% ▼

Most Bangladeshi migrant workers do not have contract papersn Tribune Report

Only 17% of Bangladeshi migrant workers have their formal job contract papers in their possession, according to a research � nding.

Referring to a research report prepared in 2014, World Bank’s lead economist Za-hid Hussain said the � ndings showed that private recruiting agencies heavily rely on middlemen to recruit potential migrants from rural Bangladesh.

The study covered 3,054 migrant house-holds and 3,12,0 potential aspiring migrants.

He revealed the � ndings at a dialogue on Safeguarding Interests of Bangladesh Mi-grant Workers: Issues of Financial Inclusion and Social Protection, which was jointly or-ganized by Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in the city yesterday.

CPD Board of Trustees member and for-mer advisor to the Caretaker Government Syed Manzur Elahi moderated the event.

“One of the crucial � ndings in this survey was that less educated and unskilled work-

ers go through the middlemen for migra-tion,’’ said the World Bank lead economist.

Financial loss associated with failed at-tempt to migrate is about US$392 on an av-erage, which means $250 medium, accord-ing to the � ndings.

“This is like you pay money to middle-men and you lose it,” said Hussain.

Actual wages per hour was Tk110 against an expected wage of Tk125 and this 12% dif-ference is because of both working higher number of hours than he was told and low-er wages than they were promised, he said quoting the survey.

“The middlemen channel is the riskiest channel of all, out of all other alternative channels. But, again one has to be careful be-cause reducing reliance on middlemen is bit simplistic. It is simplistic because the mid-dlemen deliver migration faster,” he said.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said Bangladeshi people are much better than any other countries like Philippines.

The minister, however, said the main problem is our people cannot speak Eng-lish. A Sri Lankan worker is getting 60 to 65 % higher wages than Bangladeshis because they are able to speak English.

“The government is collecting informa-tion if remittances are spent only on house-hold consumption or any other investment for ensuring e� ective use of it,” said the minister.

Bangladesh Employers’ Federation President Sala-huddin Kasem Khan said a study report showed 40% skilled workers in 2010 had gone abroad, but it dropped 34% in 2012. “This is some-thing that the government should look at.”

He underscored the need for operationalisation of hu-man resource development fund for producing skilled la-bour forces.

Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Islam said migrant workers are the driving force for achieving middle income country.

He said there are 41 training centres and six institutes marine technology where peo-ple are being trained up for going abroad.

He said state-owned Probashi Kallyan Bank (Expatriate Welfare Bank) would be turned into scheduled bank for making mi-gration cost zero.

Presenting a keynote paper, CPD execu-tive director Musta� zur Rahman said issues of migration and remittances have become very important in the context of some of the recent global development.

In the global forum, migration and remit-tances are recognised as major tool for grad-uation from LDC country to middle income country.

According to his paper, from 1971, about 9.5 million workers have left the country at di� erent time.Migrant workers contributed 7.4% of total national income and 5% of the country’s total work force is working abroad.

Only 0.15% of total development and non-development expenditure was spent for the development of migrant workers.

Most of the investment goes to construc-tion purposes and less than 1% of remit-tances are saved in the government various institutions, said the keynote paper. l

‘One of the crucial � ndings in this survey was that less educated and unskilled workers go through the middlemen for migration’

Speakers at a dialogue on ‘Safeguarding Interests of Bangladesh Migrant Workers’ held in Lakeshore Hotel Dhaka yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Business16DT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Businessmen seek policy option for overseas investmentn Tribune Report

International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) has once again sought for a policy op-tion for overseas investment by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to stop capital � ight.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) out� ow is restricted o� cially in Bangladesh but money is being invested abroad through informal chan-nel, which is one of the major components of the capital � ight, observed businessmen.

They came up with the observation at a view exchange meeting with the journalists on “Overseas Investment by Bangladeshi En-trepreneurs” which was organised by IBFB in the capital yesterday.

At present FDI out� ow is strictly restrict-ed by Bangladesh Bank. Only exporters get a little bit access to invest abroad from their foreign currency retention quota.

Former President of Federation of Bangla-desh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) A K Azad stated that all the business-es remained stuck in the country due to lack of gas and electricity supply.

“If FDI out� ow is not allowed existing business will be threatened,” he feared while addressing the event as a special guest.

He reminded that the business commu-nity had already convinced the government to allow them overseas investment under a condition of returning pro� t into the country.

He also urged the government to � x a cer-tain limit for the investors to invest abroad in-stead of considering case-to-case basis system.

Mohammed Farashuddin, former gover-nor of Bangladesh Bank, advocated for over-seas investment by Bangladeshi entrepre-neurs, saying that it is high the time to open up the policy option for FDI out� ow.

Despite having various advantages for for-eign investors including tax redemption, re-patriation, FDI in� ow is slower due to uncer-tainty in the country, observed Farashuddin while delivering his speech as chief guest.

Muhammad Ismail Hossain of Shah and Associates presented a keynote paper titled “Overseas Investment by Bangladeshi Entre-preneurs.”

According to the keynote paper, over the last four decades, the country lost about U$800m a year on average in capital � ight. Among several components of capital � ight, foreign direct investment through informal channel is one of the major ones.

Higher forex reserve will facilitate the lo-cal investors to invest overseas, said Hossain.

As excess reserve is not always good for the country, he suggested for allowing FDI out� ow to keep free � ow of forex reserve.

Motiur Rahman, former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry said busi-nessmen wouldn’t be able not survive due to higher cost of doing business in the country. He also urged government to allow entrepre-neurs to make pro� t by investing overseas.

Government has to ensure that money is being properly invested abroad, said Hu-mayn Rashid, a businessman.

He also suggested for turning the second home concept into second investment by le-galising investment abroad.

Businessmen should explain the reason why they wanted to invest in abroad when home country needs huge investment, opined the journalists attended at the event. l

WB report: Foreign trade critical to create jobsn Tribune Report

For Bangladesh, international and regional trade, especially with South and East Asian neighbors, is critical to create more and bet-ter jobs for the 2m youths entering the labour force every year, says a new World Bank study.

The study titled “Diagnostic Trade Integra-tion Study” was launched by Commerce Minis-ter Tofail Ahmed at a hotel in Dhaka yesterday.

The study provides a roadmap for strengthening Bangladesh’s trade competi-tiveness and developing a policy regime that takes full advantage of international markets.

“If Bangladesh can capture 20% of China’s current garment exports, Bangladesh’s total exports would more than double, increasing by $29bn, and will create 5.4m new jobs and 13.5m new indirect jobs,” the study said.

According to the report, to sustain and accelerate growth Bangladesh will require actions centered on four pillars.

Firstly, breaking into new markets through better trade logistic to reduce delivery lags as world markets become more competitive and new products demands shorter lead times to generate new source of competitiveness.

Secondly, breaking into new products through more neutral and rational trade policy and taxation and bonded ware house scheme; concerted e� orts to spur domestic investment and attract FDI and to contribute to export promotion and diversi� cation, including by energy and land constraints; and strategic de-velopment and promotion of service trade.

Thirdly, improving worker and consumer welfare by improving skills and literacy, im-plementing labour and worker safety guide-lines, and making safety net more e� ective in dealing with trade shocks.

Fourthly, building a supportive environ-ment including sustaining sound macroe-conomic fundamentals and strengthening the institutional capacity for strategic policy making aimed at the objective of internation-

al competitiveness to help bring focus and co-herence to the government’s reforms e� orts.

The report also calls for establishing an inter-ministerial committee to help Bangla-deshi exporters to succeed in a globally com-petitive environment.

“To accelerate GDP growth, Bangladesh needs higher volumes of exports to larger and richer markets, beyond its relatively smaller domestic market,” said Johannes Zutt, coun-try director of World Bank for Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi � rms have succeeded in gar-ments, and they can also succeed in other industries with demonstrative competitive-ness such as jute-based industries, footwear, information and communications technolo-gy, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, light in-dustry such as bicycles and others, he said.

The study identi� es a number of reform initiatives in high priority areas for enhanc-ing the country’s trade capacity and compet-itiveness.

Foreign direct investment can play a much larger role in many sectors, especially those with technology upgrading needs, such as pharmaceuticals, bicycles, and shipbuilding, the study � ndings showed.

Bangladesh will need to expand its linkag-es with neighboring countries such as China and India as well as other Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, to access under-exploited markets and attract greater Foreign Direct Investment, it said.

For this, the country needs to address critical bottlenecks such as the availability of serviced land, uninterrupted power supply, congestion Chittagong port, the Dhaka-Chit-tagong road and rail corridor, customs clear-ances at land and sea borders, and ease of access to � nance.

“A trade policy regime that is more neu-tral between exports and production for the domestic market, would support the de-velopment of new export sectors and small and medium � rms,” said Sanjay Kathuria, Lead Economist, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, World Bank, and co-author of the report.

The country also needs to prepare its youth with solid foundational education and vocational skills needed to be productive in export-oriented industry, said Sanjay.

Bangladesh needs to act urgently to tap into regional and global trade as well as FDI to boost its economy and reduce poverty, he added.

It also needs to deepen links with South Asia and East Asia to capitalise on the fast-est growing regions in the world and build supportive institutions to meet the demands of an increasingly complex trading environ-ment, said Sanjay.

He urged to create an inter-ministerial trade, transport and investment facilitation committee, to guide and coordinate the mul-ti-sector competitiveness agenda, said Sanjay.

To achieve its development objectives, Bangladesh will need a fundamental poli-cy shift that is geared towards international competitiveness and is neutral between the interests of the domestic producer, exporter, and consumer, he added.

“If the 7th Five year Plan is implement-ed, Bangladesh not only will be a middle in-come country but also a progressive country by 2021,” said Tofail Ahmed. “Bangladesh is moving towards positive economic direc-tions in all the sectors.” l

Power projects lack loan utilisation capacityn Asif Showkat Kallol

Latent liability in the government’s guaran-tee against the buyer’s credit for six power sector development projects could turn into real liability, feared a � nance ministry com-mittee.

The committee said the public sector generation companies of the projects lacked capacity to properly utilise loans. It recom-mended taking a comprehensive initiative to enhance the companies’ capacity to manage loans before giving guarantee.

In a meeting recently, the Cash and Debt Management Technical Committee (CDMTC) expressed the fear. Bangladesh Power De-velopment Board took the $1.5bn loans from foreign sources, according to meeting papers signed by Iqbal Abdullah Harun, the commit-tee chairman.

Finance Division gave the guarantee against the foreign loan taken by PDB this year to implement the six projects. But the

committee said the loans created huge pres-sures on the government exchequer.

However, State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan said the guarantee was not given to those � rms unable to repay loans.

“We have not given guarantee against foreign credit for those who won’t repay the money.” He added: “The country’s power sector needs foreign loans to ease power gen-eration gap. So, we should give guarantee to the power project loans.”

Sources said PDB also planned to take a conditional loan of $7bn from foreign sources to start works of mega power projects, but the committee raised questions about the con-cerned companies’ loan utilisation capacity.

The meeting recommended making struc-tural changes in taking loans for the power generation companies and setting up ac-counting software for those companies.

“Public power generation � rms have tak-en loans from the foreign sources, but it is

not clear how those funds will be utilised,” Mahbub Ahmed, senior � nance secretary, told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said the companies’ utilisation capac-ity of foreign funds as well as fund manage-ment capacity should be enhanced so no question about the capacity could be raised.

Meanwhile, the government has doubled the allocation for power sector to implement projects under the Annual Development Pro-gramme of the current � scal year 2015-16.

However, the sector’s performance in the last � scal year fell far behind the target.

The government has allocated Tk1648.5 crore in the ADP for the FY2016 to execute some 66 projects in the power sector, against the last � scal year’s allocation of Tk828.4 crore to implement 69 projects.

Under the FY2016 allocation, the � nance division has targeted to collect the lion’s share of the fund, worth Tk918.5 crore, from the foreign lenders and donor agencies, and Tk730 crore from the government fund. l

‘If the 7th Five year Plan is implemented, Bangladesh not only will be a middle income country but also a progressive country by 2021’

Business 17D

TTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Stocks inch down after two-day rallyn Tribune Report

The market turned back into the red again, breaking the rally of two consecutive days.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange benchmark in-dex DSEX was down nearly 10 points or 0.3% to 4,647.

The Shariah index DSES lost marginally 2 points or 0.3% to 1,113. The blue chip compris-ing index DS30 shed 4 points or 0.3% to 1,762.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX closed at 8,636, drop-ping 18 points.

All the large cap sectors closed lower ex-cept non-banking � nancial institutions that rallied more than 3%.

Telecommunication lost the highest 1.4%, followed by food and allied 1%, banks 1% and cement 0.6%.

Power, mutual fund and pharmaceuticals experienced slight correction.

Trading activities increased slightly as the DSE total turnover stood at Tk356 crore, which was 5% higher than previous session’s value.

IDLC Investments said the government’s long-term GDP growth target of 8% by 2020 in seventh � ve-year plan could not uplift mar-ket momentum as another analysis of World Bank brings out some issues of external and domestic risk factors at short-term horizon.

Investors’ mixed expectation on upcoming quarterly disclosures put a challenge on gain-ing momentum at overall market level, it said.

However, they were focusing more on scrip wise positioning and short-term pro� t realization, it added.

LankaBangla Securities said disappoint-ing corporate earnings might weigh on the market.

Financial and some other large cap stocks moved sharply lower as quarterly earnings season continued to keep investors vigilant about performance of bank, real estate and manufacturing stocks, it said.

LankaBangla said the sellers came to cash in on these stocks to safeguard their position.

Adding to this, investors might have re-acted to the news of the World Bank report where the lender cited the China economic slowdown, global commodity price fall and other external factors as potential risks for Bangladesh economy.

Lafarge Surma Cement topped the liquid-ity chart with a turnover worth Tk22.7 crore changing hands.

It was followed by Beximco Pharmaceuti-cals, KDS Accessories, Shajibazar Power Com-pany Limited, Aman Feed, Bengal Windsor and Thermoplastics Limited and Saif Powertec. l

Japan export growth slows sharply, raising fears of recessionn Reuters, Tokyo

Japan’s annual export growth slowed to a crawl in September as shrinking sales to China hurt the volume of shipments, raising fears that weak overseas demand may have pushed the economy into recession.

Ministry of Finance data showed exports rose just 0.6% in the year to September, against a 3.4% gain expected by economists in a Reuters poll.

That was the slowest growth since August last year, following the prior month’s 3.1% gain. The weak yen helped increase the val-ue of exports, but volume fell 3.9%, the third straight month recording an annual decline.Wednesday’s data was the � rst major indica-tor for September and is part of the calcula-tion of third quarter gross domestic product. A third quarter contraction would put Japan into recession, following the second quar-ter’s negative GDP result, and could force policy makers to o� er further stimulus.

“Given this data, the economy probably contracted about an annualized 0.5 percent

in July-September. External demand, capital spending and inventory investment were a likely drag, while consumption picked up,” said Koya Miyamae, senior economist at SMBC Nikko Securities.

China’s slowdown and soft domestic de-mand weighed on factory output and the broader economy, although the Bank of Japan saw the e� ects of China’s slowdown as limited for now, sticking to its rosy growth outlook.

Still, weak indicators will keep the central bank under pressure to ease policy again to hit its ambitious 2% in� ation target next year.

Some analysts expect the BOJ to move at its Oct 30 monetary meeting, when it also issues long-term economic and price projections.

“Weak exports were within the BOJ’s ex-pectations so this data alone could not be a trigger. But there’s no doubt that pressure will mount on the BOJ to act if weakness per-sists,” said Taro Saito, senior economist at NLI Research Institute.

Separate data by the BOJ, which captures trade movements in real terms by eliminating price e� ects, showed real exports rose 0.2%

in July-September while real imports grew 2.6%. This suggests net exports weighed on third-quarter GDP, said Yuichiro Nagai, econ-omist at Barclays Securities Japan.

China syndrome hits trade powerhousesChina’s economic growth has dipped below 7% for the � rst time since the global � nancial crisis, despite a barrage of stimulus measures.

Flow-on e� ects of the slowdown are spreading though Asia, with South Kore-an exports tumbling while Taiwan’s export orders continued to slide recently, sapping Asia’s trade powerhouses.

The MOF data showed China-bound ex-ports fell 3.5% year-on-year in September, down for a second straight month on falling shipments of light oil and car parts.

Shipments to Asia - which account for about a half of Japan’s overall exports - fell 0.9% in September, the � rst annual decline in seven months. Exports to the United States, a major buyer of Japanese products, rose 10.4% in September, led by shipments of cars. In volume terms, however, US-bound exports fell 4.7%. l

Yen under pressure on Bank of Japan stimulus betsn AFP, Tokyo

The yen was under pressure yesterday as poor Japanese trade data stoked speculation that the Bank of Japan may unleash another round of easy money stimulus to boost the world’s number three economy.

There are growing fears that Japan sank into recession in the third quarter and with BoJ policymakers set to meet next week, all eyes are on whether they make a move to counter the downturn. l

Bangabandhu satellite project to face compensation if deadline missed n Ishtiaq Husain

If the country’s � rst-ever Bangabandhu sat-ellite project missed its installation deadline, it will have to pay compensation as per a hefty provision.

According to Bangladesh Telecommunica-tion Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the reg-ulatory body added a provision for providing a compensation for missing the deadline of the project.

Telecommunication industry insiders said the original deadline of awarding the project had expired in June this year and it will take six more months to improve its or-bital position.

Bangladesh has already signed a deal with Russia-based Intersputnik for taking lease of an orbital slot worth US$28m.

On Tuesday, the cabinet committee on public purchase approved French compa-ny’s tender proposal for the implementation of Bangabandhu Satellite project involving TK2,967 crore.

Reviewing all delays, it will take at least nine months extra time. Although the govern-ment is hoping to launch the satellite by the end of 2017, it is likely to miss the set deadline due to the delay in awarding the work order.

According to purchase contract mandates of Intersputnik, the orbital slot will remain valid for 15 years with the completion of the task by the contracted time. If the govern-ment � nally missed the deadline of the sat-ellite launch, it will eventually lose the slot.

“As a priority project, the commission added a hefty provision for the manufac-turer so we can install the project on time,” said Sunil Kanti Bose, out going chairman of BTRC while he was addressing a press con-ference at his o� ce in the city yesterday.

There is no scope for delaying in the pro-ject installation works due to the tough pro-vision, he added.

To kicko� of the project, the government will give the work order of the project within next 10 days, said an o� cial of the telecom watchdog, seeking anonymity.

He further said the commission has al-ready reshu� ed a 9-member Bangabandhu Satellite Project Implementation Committee to expedite the work.

Thales Alenia Space, a France aerospace manufacturer and work order winner of Bangabandhu satellite implementation pro-ject, will have to accomplish the task within two years as per government requirement.

Earlier, a three-member evaluation com-mittee reportedly selected the winner com-pany after evaluating bidding documents for the Bangabandhu satellite implementation

project, according to sources in Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

Though MDA Corporation of Canada had the lowest bid of US$222.75m, it could not win the tender because of some inconsisten-cies in the price quoted in its tender.

Considering all facts, the committee re-portedly selected Thales Alenia Space, the second-lowest bidder worth $248m.

In June, four international companies–Great Wall Industry Corporation of China, MDA Corporation, Thales Alenia Space, and Orbital ATK from USA – participated in the tender process of the installation and post-installation support services for launch-ing the country’s � rst-ever satellite.

Once the satellite is launched into orbit, it will eventually help the country save $14m annually. The government can also earn by renting the satellite. l

Business18DT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

CORPORATE NEWS

Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited has recently held its annual general meeting. The company’s chairperson, Md Faizur Rahman Chowdhury presided over the meeting where shareholders approved a 10% stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2015

Jamuna Bank has recently organised a training programme on law of banking and its practice. The bank’s DMD, Mirza Elias Uddin Ahmed inaugurated the programme as chief guest

Pubali Bank Limited has recently held its second conference for managers in Greater Chittagong Area. The bank’s managing director, Md Abdul Halim Chowdhury was present at the conference as chief guest

Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited has recently congratulated governor of Bangladesh Bank, Dr Atiur Rahman for being named ‘Central Bank Governor of the year 2015 for Asia’ by Emerging Markets, a London-based publication. Managing director of Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited, Farman R Chowdhury handed over a � ower bouquet to the governor in this regard

IMF: Gulf should adjust to new oil price ‘reality’n AFP, Dubai

Gulf economies need to adjust to the “new reality” of oil prices expected to remain low for some time, the International Monetary Fund says, recommending spending cuts and income diversi� cation.

But the oil-rich monarchies remain in a strong position to make the necessary adjust-ments thanks to the large � nancial reserves they have built up during years of � rmer pric-es, said the IMF regional outlook published yesterday.

IMF Middle East and Central Asia chief Masood Ahmed, who was in Dubai for the outlook’s release, said: “Not only this year, but for the years to come, these countries will need to make an adjustment to better balance their spending to the new reality of the oil prices.”

The budgets of Gulf Cooperation Coun-cil members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are facing an average de� cit this year of 13% of gross domestic product (GDP), Ahmed told AFP in an interview.

Their combined budget de� cit over the next � ve years will exceed $1tn, he said, as oil prices have plunged to about $50 a barrel from about $115 in June 2014, pressured by oversupply and weak demand.

The IMF expects economic growth in the GCC to slow to 3.25% this year and to 2.75% in 2016 from 3.5% in 2014.

“Most people today believe that oil prices

may come up a little bit from where they are today... By 2020, we are expecting to see oil prices in the low and mid 60s rather than the numbers they were used to,” said Ahmed.

“That means that most of these countries will need to undertake a process of sizeable and sustained adjustment on the � scal side.”

Those adjustments should include � nding ways to cut public spending and diversify income away from oil, said Ahmed, pointing mainly at the need to cut subsidies and re-

duce the public sector wage bill.“Most nationals of the GCC countries

work in the public sector, and that’s a model that has to change over the next few years,” he said.

Ahmed applauded a recent move by the UAE to lift subsidies on fuel as a “good exam-ple” for other GCC countries.

Kuwait lifted subsidies on diesel and ker-osene and other states are planning subsidy cuts.

Capital spending on projects should also be moderated with the focus on e� ciency.

“Capital spending has increased a lot in many of these countries. Some of these pro-jects are already being slowed down; others are being postponed. But in all cases you can look at the e� ciency,” he said.

‘Difficult choices ahead’ As for income diversi� cation, Ahmed said GCC countries, known for their low-taxation systems, could look at taxing consumption to raise revenues outside the oil sector.

“Many of the countries in the GCC have been looking at the possibility of a value-add-ed tax ... as a way of providing some income outside the oil sector,” he said.

“There are di� cult choices ahead. But it is important to set out for each country what they want to do in each of these areas and to lay out a medium-term plan.”

Most GCC countries are in a strong po-sition to adjust to the new reality of the oil market, thanks to their hefty � nancial re-serves.

“GCC countries have very wisely built up � nancial savings during the time when oil prices were high. That puts them in a very strong position today to face the shock of the magnitude of lower oil prices that we are see-ing today,” said Ahmed.

These countries should use these some of those � nancial bu� ers “to make the process of adjusting to new oil price more gradual, (and) take more time to do it.” l

Director of the International Monetary Fund’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, Masood Ahmed IMF

Robbery at Moulvibazar Krishi Bank n Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar

Robbers have looted Tk6.26 lakh breaking the volt of Bangladesh Krishi Bank on Sham-sernagar road in the district town.

The daring bank robbery occurred in populous area of the town on Tuesday evening.

When asked, the branch’s Manager Naz-mul Islam said being informed by security guards at about 8:30pm he rushed to the branch and found the amount was missing and informed local police about the matter.

Besides, the grills of a backside window and the volt’s iron door were broken, he continued.

The manager went on that he suspected the robbery might have taken place between 6:30pm and 8:30pm on the day.

Sadar model police station O� cer-in-Charge (OC) Md Abdus Salek said they primarily suspected that several robbers tactfully might stay inside the bank earlier to commit the robbery.

However, they detained its three sta� for questioning and a case was registered in this connection, the OC added.

Moulvibazar DC Md Qumrul Islam and SP Md Shahjalal visited the spot at night. l

News 19D

TTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

3 burnt in Savar gas pipe explosion n Our Correspondent, Savar

Three people, including two shop owners, sustained burns in a � re caused by a gas pipe explosion in Ashulia on Tuesday night.

The victims are Badshah Mondol, owner of a grille shop, Dulal and Lal Miah.

The victims said the pipe suddenly explod-

ed when they were having tea in a shop beside Nabinagar-Chandra highway in Baipail area.

They returned home after receiving treat-ment at a local hospital.

Senior Station O� cer of the DEPZ Fire Ser-vice Abdul Hamid said the � re was put out shortly. But major accidents can take place if the pipe is not � xed soon, he added. l

Psycho-social motivation needed for sexual harassment preventionn BSS

Speakers at a discussion observed that ca-pacity building in both individual and social levels has become an urgent need for sub-stantial and sustainable prevention of sexual harassment against students and overcom-ing the social crime through psycho-social inspiration.

They viewed the community people and watch group should take the responsibility of facilitating the students, particularly the girls, towards easy access to all requisite in-stitutional learning for the sake of transform-ing them into worthy citizens.

The observations came in a daylong train-ing styled "Psycho-social inspiration to pre-vent sexual harassment" held at BRAC Learn-ing Center in the city yesterday.

BRAC Meyeder Jonnyo Nirapad Nagari-katto (MEJNIN) project organised the pro-gramme under its Gender Justice and Di-versity project to motivate and inspire the community watch groups on how to expe-dite the work for combating sexual harass-ment against the students.

Senior Sector Specialist Rashida Parveen conducted the training as resource person while Junior Sector Specialists Feroz Kabir, Ruhul Amin and Soniya Parveen supple-

mented her.Among others, Convener of Chhoto Ban-

gram Adarsha Girls School Sadrul Islam, School teachers Rahima Akhter Jahan and Naznin Siddiqua, Religious leader Tofazzal Hossain and member of Seroil Community Watch Group Ansar Ali took part in the open discussion.

Rashida Parveen opined that social com-mitment along with forging resistance is very vital to combat sexual harassment against the girl students. Public representatives, parents, civil society, community and me-dia should work together for preventing the crime.

She said ensuring safe citizenship for girls through combating all sorts of violence espe-cially sexual harassment against them is very important for boosting women empower-ment, she added.

Sexual harassment at public places re-stricts girls rights to education, rights to mobility, rights to freedom and rights to life. So, the social crime must be averted through forging social movement.

During group discussion, the participants put forward a set of recommendations on how to boost psycho-social strength of the commu-nity people towards preventing and resisting sexual harassment and all other violat l

Jute workers on Khulna-Jessore Highway for arrearsn Our Correspondent, Khulna

The workers of a jute mill in Atara industrial area have put a barricade on the Khulna-Jes-sore highway in Alim gate area in the city de-manding particularly their arrears.

Later, they held a rally on the busy road for one hour starting from 10am yesterday disrupting the vehicular movement.

Sources said their demands also include halting handover of the mill and reviving it through ensuring proper funding.

Alim Jute mills handover prevention com-mittee called the programme where its lead-ers threatened of blocking local roads and rail tracks if their demands were not met by today.

In the speech, the committee’s Convener Abdur Rashid demanded necessary fund-ing to buy jute for the mills and selling the stocked jute to pay the arrears of the workers.

Another workers’ leader named Abdus Salam said the workers infuriated due to not taking any fruitful steps by the state author-ities to meet their demands. He warned to declaring new programme today unless any headway appears in the meantime. l

Burglars stole money by breaking into the vault of Krishi Bank's Moulvibazar branch on Tuesday night DHAKA TRIBUNE

News20DT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Man held with niece’s body n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Police in Gazipur yesterday detained a man who was transporting the dead body of his niece to her hometown in Barisal before an autopsy was performed on the corpse. Rana Sarker, 25, was held in Mawna Chowrasta area while on his way to Barisal by a car with his niece Su� a Begum’s body.

“Su� a, daughter of Abdus Sobhan of Barisal’s Gaurnadi upazila, and her uncle Rana lived at a rented house in Sreepur’s Tepirbari village and worked at a ready-made garment factory in MC Bazar area,” said Abdur Rashid, sub-inspector of Sreepur police station.

“Rana in the morning saw that Su� a’s body was hanging from the ceiling fan. He recovered the body, put it inside the car and set o� for Barisal. During a short stopover in Mawna, locals saw the body and informed police.” l

Global Dignity Day celebrated n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Global Dignity Day was celebrated yesterday in the district with a call to empower people with dignity. Marking the day, Friendship, a reputed Non Government Organization in the country, chalked out the elaborate programmes.

A discussion was held in Balashighat area under Fulchhari upazi-la in the district with district co-ordinator Abdus Salam in the chair. l

11 killed in road accidents across the country n Tribune Desk

At least 11 people were killed in separate road accidents in � ve districts yesterday.

Our Naraynganj correspondent said six people were killed in three separate accidents in Siddhirganj and Sonargaon upazilas of the district.

Three of the deceased were Shagor, 25, driver of a CNG-run auto rickshaw and its passenger Mantu Mia, 40, residents of Rupganj of the district and Mominul Haque, a resident of Ka-chamatpara village in Chuadanga district. The three other de-ceased could not be identi� ed immediately.

Sub inspector of Siddhirganj police station Masud Khan said the accident occurred when a Dhaka-bound CNG-run auto-rick-shaw was hit by an unknown vehicle around 5 am, leaving driv-er and three passengers of the vehicle dead on the spot.

Besides, Mominul died on the spot early this morning at Kanchpur Bridge area in Sonargaon upazila as a truck ran over him.

Another accident occurred when a bus hit a pedestrian at Sanarpar area under Siddhirganj upazila at about 10 am, leaving the unidenti� ed pedestrian dead on the spot.

Police seized the bus and arrested its driver.Sarafat Ullah, o� cer-in-charge of Siddhirganj police sta-

tion con� rmed the incidents and said the bodies were sent to Narayanganj General Hospital morgue.

In Chapainawabganj, two motorcycle riders were killed in a road accident at Dobarmore on Radhanagar-Rohonpur road un-der Gomostapur upazila, reported our correspondent.

The deceased were Mukhlesur Rahman, 32, son of Koyes Uddin and Momin Ali, 27, son of Tofazzal Hossain, of Begpur village under Radhanagar union of the upazila.

Khondokar Golam Mortuza, o� cer-in-charge of Gomosta-pur thana said the accident occurred when the motorcycle hit a roadside tree as its driver lost control over it, leaving both the motorcycle riders critically injured on the spot.

The injured were succumbed to their injuries on way to Upazila Health Complex.

Comilla correspondent said a Kuwait expatriate Bangladesh citizen was killed in a road accident in Sujatpur area on the Dha-ka-Chittagong H ighway under Chauddagram upazila of in the morning.

The deceased was Amir Hossain, 50, son of late Sayed Amir Ali, a resident of Durgapur village under Batisa union of the upazila.

Police said the accident occurred when a bus hit Amir in the area around 11am while he was crossing the road.

Critically injured Amir was sent to Chauddagram Upazila

Health Complex where he succumbed to his injuries. In Gaibandha, a man was killed in an accident in Kholabari

area under Sadar upazila while a CNG run auto-rickshaw hit on the Gaibandha-Sadullapur Road in the morning, reports our correspondent. The deceased was Oahedul Islam,45,son of Mozammel Haque, said Mehedi Hasan, o� cer-in-charge of Sadar police station.

Chittagong correspondent said a woman was killed and an-other person was injured when a concrete mixture truck collid-

ed head on with a CNG-run auto rickshaw in Kaptai area under Chandgaon police station in city at noon.

The deceased was Anzuman Akhtar, 35, wife of Firoj Ahmed, of Patiya upazila.

Police said the accident took place in Mehrab Chowdhury Ghat area of Kaptai while the truck collided head on with the CNG carrying the woman around 12:30pm, leaving her critically injured. Locals sent her to CMCH where on duty doctors declared her dead. l

Kids 21D

T

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

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• Most of the dust in your home is actually dead skin! Yuck!

• Although the Stegosaurus dinosaur was over nine metres long, its brain was only the size of a walnut.

• • Humans get a little taller in space

because there is no gravity pulling down on them.

• Because of the unusual shape of their legs, kangaroos and emus struggle to walk backwards.

• A hippopotamus may seem huge but it can still run faster than a man.

• Even if an analog clock is broken, at least it shows the correct time twice a day.

• Sneezing with your eyes open is impossible.

• The trickiest tongue twister in the English language is apparently “Sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.” Give it a try and see for yourself.

Photo: Bigstock

News22DT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 201522D

T

Counseling Service at Residential Semester of BRACUnRehan Ahmed

Physical � tness gets plenty of attention, and for good reasons. Mental � tness is just as important as physical health and should not be neglected in any situation. Mental � tness is exactly what it sounds like - keeping our body and emotional health in a harmonious balance. However, we observe that in the rapidly changing modern world, it has become really di� cult to obtain a sound mental health. There are a number of reasons behind this. For instance, di� erent types of existing unrest in the society, lack of proper knowledge to safeguard our physical and mental well-being, stress at workplace and in the family, and so on.

All these create a huge problem for our children, the future generation. If we fail to keep them away from all sorts of undue stress and anxiety then they will not be able to get a sound mental health, and ultimately it will cost us the happiness and healthy integration of our families and society as a whole. Therefore, we need to � nd out a place where we can share our problems, where we can seek for emotional assistance to come out from the di� cult issues that are really hindering our way of life. Moreover, we also break the existing stigma of the society that those people, who seek help from psychologists, are mad. At � rst, we need to start it at home, with our families and if need be, we need to bring our children to the counsellors.

Counseling service can play a vital role to keep our mind � t and if we face any sort of anxiety or emotional problems, counsellors can be really handy to assist us. As I work in the residential campus of BRAC University, I get a unique chance to work with the students more closely, and based on my nine years of experience at the residential

campus, I can say that our children go through numerous psychological issues like depression, anxiety, lack of con� dence, relationship issues, trauma and so on, for which counseling is absolutely required. Keeping this in mind, BRAC University has taken the appropriate initiative to set up an e� cient and e� ective counseling unit which has been playing a very e� ective role both

in Mohakhali campus and the residential campus to address the psychosocial problems of the students, teachers and sta� .

Indeed, psychosocial service is signi� cant for the residential campus of BRAC University. Here, more than 450 students from di� erent social backgrounds stay in a larger community, where they acquire di� erent social skills like how to lead their lives in di� erent conditions apart from their family members. To insert the social skills among the students is one of the major goals

of Residential Semester so that our students can handle all sorts of challenges in future. As they stay away from their families, at the initial stage, they face the problem to adjust themselves with new friends; new people in an unknown place where they need to share the general facilities including room, washrooms, dining and so many things. Our counsellors are playing vital role to make the

students adjusting themselves within the diversi� ed residential community. If they did not play the role then a good number of students might not be able to complete the semester only because of the adjustment issue.

I have seen that with the help of the counselors, many students get the chance to explore their problems that were deep down in them from the childhood. Over the years, they did not get the opportunity to share these uncomfortable issues with

anyone. As a result, they behaved di� erently with others and failed to have a smooth life. However, after the sharing and getting the assistance from the counselors, I found that dramatic changes took place in terms of their behavior, approach, thinking pattern. And eventually it has also helped the management to operate the semester smoothly.

Here, I would like to bring an example of back in 2011. One of the male students was going through schizophrenia and we were quite doubtful whether the student would be able to complete the semester and to some extent, his graduation from the university. Our counselors started working with the boy and through their great work, they boy could � nish the semester, and � nally, he � nished his graduation from BRAC University. Now, he is working in a private company and he has been doing well. If he did not get the necessary support from our counsellors then it would have been really tough for him to carry out his education.

In our Savar Campus, the counsellors also conduct workshops on di� erent psychosocial issues on regular basis. Need basis group sessions are also conducted. Moreover, starting from 2013, the Counselling Unit has been facilitating a seminar on “Awareness on Drug Dependency” for the students to educate youth about the negative consequences of abusing drugs.

Finally, I would like to convey that this is the time to break the stigma regarding the counseling service, and we must ensure a beautiful, peaceful and comfortable atmosphere for our beloved children. l

Rehan Ahmed is the campus superintendent at BRACU, Savar campus

There can be a lot of reasons why we need to change our old phones. And often, there are interesting stories behind the change. Bangladeshi mobile phone manufacturer Goldberg has organised a competition about these stories. To participate, visit mainjinish.com and share your interesting

stories for changing your phone. The last date of submitting your piece is November 25. The best storyteller will receive the Ion NL1- Goldberg’s big battery smartphone. For more details, visit goo.gl/L9iQkS, Goldberg Mobile’s o� cial YouTube channel. l

Share your story to win a brand new smartphone

Creative IT Limited has awarded certi� cate to journalists working in print, electronic and online media for a free special outsourcing course. SM Ashraful Islam, chief executive director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) handed the certi� cates to the journalists at Creative IT’s head o� ce in Dhanmondi. ICT division’s additional secretary Harun-ur-Rashid ad Creative IT’s chairman Md Monir Hossain were present at the ceremony, among others. It was said in the ceremony that Creative IT received almost 200 applications for their free freelancing course for journalists when it was announced last March. Out of them, 30 journalists were selected to participate in the training. The company has � nally

handed over the certi� cates this Monday. The free course gave the journalists ideas on the concepts of blogging, graphic designing, email marketing, video marketing and outsourcing. 16 disabled participants of a separate graphic design course were also awarded certi� cates at the ceremony. They were trained free of cost under corporate social responsibility (CSR) and Creative IT itself employed them. l

Journalists receive certi� cate for course in outsourcing

Feature 23D

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Booze control

nTasmia Tabassum

As anyone with a social media account will already know, the hashtags #richkidsofdhaka and #classykidsofdhaka have gone viral, with users whole-

heartedly joining in to pay mocking homage to the now-infamous teenager, whose name is not been mentioned because of his status as a minor. The teen in question, on October 12, had been racing his father’s SUV under the in� uence while posting photos on social media, when he rammed two rickshaws, injuring four. Rumours of one death remained uncon� rmed. However, beneath this somewhat amusing jab on a digital platform at the egotism and self-glori� cation of the social elite of Dhaka, lurks a much more menacing issue - the alarming rise of

drunk driving incidents in the capital. There are several factors which have given rise to this situation.

Too close for comfortThe � rst and most important factor is the very high population density of Dhaka. A teeming population of 14.4 million packed into a city spanning only 300 square kilometres means that about 19,447 people live per square kilometre. This gives rise to the next two factors - the infamous tra� c jams of Dhaka that sap precious time and energy from its residents every day, and absurdly low tra� c supervision. The number of tra� c police in Dhaka is far fewer than necessary. In fact, the only places they can be spotted are at tra� c intersections, and at the spot of a road accident - that too, well after the damage has been done. This

means that the roads of Dhaka are extremely chaotic - drivers changing lanes, taking the wrong way on one-way routes…and, of course, even driving drunk. Not only are tra� c personnel scarce, they are not even well-trained. There is no standard protocol in place in Dhaka to check the intoxication level of drivers even in the unlikely case that their irregular driving patterns are spotted. Here is where the presence of another core factor is palpable - the general ignorance of the availability of alcohol in the city.

Not so dryContrary to popular opinion, alcohol is not, in fact, prohibited in Bangladesh. The sale and consumption of alcohol is allowed for non-Muslims in the country. So while it might not be as prominent as the bottle of Chivas Regal pictured in the now-infamous

Snapchat photo, alcohol consumption is far from non-existent in the city. There are several warehouses in the city that sell alcoholic drinks, as well as government approved bars at many clubs and hotels in the city. So there is a very real possibility that driving on Dhaka’s already frenzied roads, are some intoxicated drivers behind the wheels, putting at risk their own lives as well that those of the other commuters. In the capital of the Muslim-majority country, the issue of drunk driving is mistakenly dismissed as being insigni� cant - and the grave consequences of this attitude are being manifested in incidents like the aforementioned drunk-driving incident. It is about time breath analysers were used by the police to detect drunkenness of drivers, and CCTV footage was used for better surveillance and more concrete evidence.

Drunk driving accident by teenager - The big picture

Photo: Bigstock

Feature24DT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Root of the problemThe last factor that basically worsens the e� ects of the other factors is the wide-spread corruption in the legal system of Bangladesh. Drivers blatantly ignore tra� c rules because they know that they can easily be o� the hook by discretely slipping the tra� c police a wad of cash. And the police, in their turn, expertly overlook any tra� c violations caused by politically in� uential people, because they do not want to get on the wrong side of those in power. This kind of brazen misuse of power is an open secret in our country - so much so that we have accepted it as a normal state of a� airs.

All these factors have helped to create the current situation in Dhaka, where a person can be driving while under the in� uence of alcohol, or even being well below the legal age limit for driving, yet be unnoticed and unchallenged, until s/he gets

involved in a major accident. According to a recent study by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a commuters’ association, road accidents caused nearly a death an hour last year, with 8,589 casualties in 5,928 road accidents across the country. With such low surveillance and the indi� erence of the concerned authorities, the situation has been worsening day by day.

The most shocking aspect of the incident of October 12, is the age of the driver. The teenager involved has been much vili� ed by social media and the national dailies, and general bitterness at the “dirty-rich,” apparently invincible section of society he hails from has further facilitated this public animosity. However, the actual state of a� airs is not this black and white. As easy as it is to point � ngers at one individual, one segment, of society, the fact of the matter is, it is we as a society who are to blame. We

need to take a step back and evaluate what kind of social structure and power dynamics we have created for this kind of incidents to take place. The powerful are undoubtedly to blame for abusing their power, but the very social and moral norms, or rather the lack of them, that are being imparted to the young generation deserve serious reconsideration.

Underage driving, drunk driving, road accidents, lack of justice to criminals, lack of transparency of the legal system, � agrant misuse of power - each of these is yet another disquieting symptom of the rapidly disintegrating � bres of our society, of decaying moral standards. Unless we consider the big picture and initiate reforms at both the family and the national levels, we will be able to change neither the entitlement mindset of the people, nor the malfunctioning of the system - and the accidents will only get more tragic. l

According to a recent study by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a commuters’ association, road accidents caused nearly a death an hour last year, with 8,589 casualties in 5,928 road accidents across the country. With such low surveillance and the indi� erence of the concerned authorities, the situation has been worsening day by day

Photo: Bigstock

In the capital of the Muslim-majority country, the issue of drunk driving is mistakenly dismissed as being insigni� cant

25D

TSportINSIDE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Zimbabwe tour will not be easy, says TamimThe 26-year old Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal said that although Australia postponed their two-match Test series against Bangladesh this month, the Tigers cricketers are hardly sitting idle as they are currently busy playing the ongo-ing Walton 17th National Cricket League longer version cricket. PAGE 26

England tormentor Warne inspires YasirPakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah will seek inspiration from former Australian great Shane Warne’s exploits against England when he plays in the second Test starting in Dubai today. Shah was seen as Pakistan’s trump card in the three-match series but was forced to miss last week’s � rst Test in Abu Dhabi with a back spasm. PAGE 27

Neymar leads Barca in Messi’s absenceBarcelona forward Neymar again showed he is capable of providing leadership and impetus in the absence of Lionel Messi during their CL victory over BATE Borisov. With Messi missing for two months with a knee injury the responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of Neymar. PAGE 28

Windies bid to do Sobers proudThe West Indies will look to the legendary Gar� eld Sobers for inspiration as they bid for an unlikely series-saving victory when they take on fellow strugglers Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo beginning to-day. The tourists have yet to win a Test in Sri Lanka after 10 attempts and they su� ered an innings defeat last weekend. PAGE 29

An action from the match between Kolkata Mohammedan and Sri Lankan out� t Solid FC (White) during the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup at Chittagong’s MA Aziz Stadium yesterday BFF

BPL icons set for blind daten Minhaz Uddin Khan

The players by choice draft of the Bangla-desh Premier League season 3 will be held at a city hotel in Dhaka today. Initially the process, also known as the players’ draft, was scheduled for this Monday but was lat-er brought forward to today.

The six franchises – Dhaka Dynamites, Chittagong Vikings, Comilla Victorians, Barisal Bulls, Rangpur Riders and Sylhet Super Stars – will battle it out in the behind-the-doors players’ draft and pick their squad from a list of 123 local and 196 foreign cricketers.

It is mandatory for each side to pick at least 11 local players, including the icon

cricketer, and three foreign cricketers from the draft. The decision to put the icon play-ers – Shakib al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mush-� qur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, Mahmudullah and Mashrafe bin Mortaza – up for lottery came after a discussion between the BPL governing council and the franchises.

Although the BPL governing council had initially thought of placing the icons through a mutual discussion with the players and the franchises, all parties did not agree.

The icon cricketers' destination there-fore, will now depend on a piece of paper in-side a lottery bowl. Meanwhile, all the teams have already secured at least four foreign cricketers of their choice and are eagerly waiting to see how the draft unfolds today. l

ICON PLAYERS

SHAKIBAll-rounder

MUSHFIQWK-Batsman

MASHRAFEFast bowler

MAHMUDULLAHAll-rounder

TAMIMBatsman

NASIRAll-rounder

SK KAMAL INT’L CLUB CUP

Solid start for Solid FCn Tribune Report

Sri Lanka Premier League champions Solid FC came from behind to snatch a dramatic 2-1 win over I-League side Kolkata Mohammed-an in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup at MA Aziz Stadium yesterday.

Yesterday's clash was the opening tie of the eight-nation tournament for both the sides and it was the Sri Lankan out� t that emerged with all three points in a group which has been labelled as the “group of death” by the local media.

Mohammedan went close to breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute but mid� elder Kazeem Amobi's shot hit the woodwork.

Forward Taurus Tecompleh Manneh how-ever, put his side ahead in the 38th minute with a lovely � nish.

After chesting down a cross inside the penalty area, the Nigerian striker slotted home into the far post.

Mid� elder AO Shola brought parity two minutes into the second half, courtesy some fancy footwork. Exhibiting � ne individual skills, the Nigerian dribbled past two defenders and thumped the ball into the near post.

Solid mid� elder Gnanaruban shocked Mo-hammedan by sealing victory just three min-utes before the end of stipulated time.l

TODAY’S MATCHESEast Bengal v Karachi Electric 4:30pmAbahani v Chittagong Abahani 7:30pm

Sport26DT

(R-L) Junaid Abu Salay Musa, director Epyllion Group speaks as Naba-e-Zaheer, managing director Mir Group, and ITHS senior section head Zubeyir Beyram look on during the press conference of Corporate Football Fiesta yesterday

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Amir excited to resume career in Bangladesh n AFP, Lahore

Returning paceman Mohammad Amir yester-day said playing in the Bangladesh Premier League third edition next month will be the � rst step towards reviving his international career, halted by a spot-� xing ban.

The 23-year-old is contracted to feature in the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament for Chit-tagong Vikings starting from November 24 in a pre-draft deal � nalised and signed last week.

“I am really thankful to the team for choosing me and I will try my best to give them my 100 percent performance and en-thrall the Bangladeshi fans,” Amir told AFP. “It will be the � rst step towards reviving my international career.”

His burgeoning talent, described as the “hottest” in international cricket by legend-ary Pakistan allrounder Imran Khan, was halted by a � ve-year spot-� xing ban in 2011. Amir, along with former Test captain Salman Butt and fellow bowler Mohammad Asif, was banned for accepting illegal money to orchestrate deliberate no-balls in the Lord’s Test against England in 2010.

In January this year ICC allowed Amir to feature in domestic home matches after an amendment to its anti-corruption code.

Amir has been in great form in the qualify-ing rounds of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, tak-ing 34 wickets in just four matches to help Sui Southern Gas qualify for the main tournament.

Amir, who is targetting the World Twen-ty20 in India next March for his international return, said he was happy with his form.

“Right now I am really happy with my performance, which really gives me con� -dence,” he said.

He will feature in his � rst � rst-class match for � ve years from October 26 against Lahore, where he may face some of his former team-mates.

“I am focusing on the Quaid-e-Azam tro-phy right now, and my dream is to make my team national champions,” said Amir. l

Zimbabwe tour will not be easy, says Tamimn Mazhar Uddin

The eagerly-anticipated players by choice draft of the upcoming third edition of the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 will be held today.

Besides other agendas, the issue of the six icon cricketers will reach a conclusion today. Initially, the BPL governing council decided to assign the icons – Shakib al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mush� qur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mashrafe bin Mortaza and Nasir Hossain – to di� erent franchises with their consent but opposition from the participating teams has forced the ruling body of the cash-rich tour-nament to opt for a lottery.

And according to dashing opening bats-man Tamim, who played for Duronto Rajsha-hi in the � rst two editions as opposed to his hometown of Chittagong, it does not really matter whichever franchise he is allocated as he is a professional cricketer.

“As I am a Chittagong lad, everyone wants me to play for my local franchise. However,

I still do not know which team I am going to play for this season. With that said, as a professional player I will give my hundred percent whichever team I eventually play for,” Tamim informed the media during an agreement signing ceremony with Goldmark Biscuits at a city hotel yesterday.

The 26-year old added that although Aus-tralia postponed their two-Test series against Bangladesh this month, the Tigers cricketers are hardly sitting idle as they are currently busy playing the ongoing Walton 17th Na-tional Cricket League.

“It was disappointing to miss out on the series against Australia and I do not know the exact reasons. I do not know when the tour will eventually take place as the Bangladesh Cricket Board is looking into the matter. I do not want to comment on this issue. However, the cricketers are busy playing the NCL and I think it will help us as we are playing the tournament after a long time,” he said.

Following the postponement of the Aus-

tralia Tests, Bangladesh’s next assignment is against Zimbabwe at home.

The Tigers will face the Zimbabweans in three ODIs, two Tests and as many T20 in-ternationals, and Tamim opined that the visitors will pose a stern test of their creden-tials. Zimbabwe recently beat Ireland 2-1 in a three-ODI series and are currently leading Afghanistan 2-1 in a � ve-ODI series.

During yesterday’s programme, Tamim also revealed his plans of staging a cricket tournament in Chittagong in the memory of his late father Iqbal Khan. Tamim said the tournament will help to identify potential fu-ture Bangladesh cricketers.

“I am planning to stage a cricket tourna-ment in memory of my late father in Chit-tagong where the main target will be to � nd young and talented players. I hope we will discover at least 10 players who will repre-sent Bangladesh in future. In the past, Chit-tagong produced a host of national players and I hope the golden days will return,” the southpaw concluded. l

Corporate Football Fiesta starts tomorrown Tribune Report

The 2nd Mir Corporate Football Fiesta, pow-ered by Sailor, will kick o� tomorrow at the In-ternational Turkish Hope School (ITHS) prem-ises in Uttara. The six-a-side tournament has been organised by Leo Entertainment.

16 teams will participate in the second edition which will be held according to the group-stage format. US Bangla Airlines and Wills Events are the associate partners in the nine-day event.

Apart from defending champions Bando Design Ltd the other participants are Com� t Composite Knit Ltd, Accenture, Therap, Mir Group, ITHS, Qubee, Magnito Digital, Gem-con Group, MTB, IDLC, Computer Source, Grey, Madchef, Vizrt and Asiatic.

Following the round-robin stage, the teams will qualify for three categories - Cup, Plate and Bowl. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Cup quarter-� nals, the third team from each group will play in the Plate semi-� nals while the last team from every group will face o� in the Bowl semi-� nals.

US Bangla Airlines will award the Cup cham-pions with air tickets to Cox’s Bazar while Sail-or will present its apparel to the winners. Wills

will gift Smartphones to the Best Goalkeeper, Highest Scorer and Player of the Tournament.

Dhaka Tribune is the print media partner of the coveted event while Radio ABC FM89.2 and Asian TV are the associate media partners.

Naba-e-Zaheer, managing director Mir Group, Junaid Abu Salay Musa, director Epyl-lion Group and ITHS senior section head Zubey-ir Beyram were present as guests in the press conference and draw ceremony yesterday. l

GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP DBANDO ITHS COMFIT COM SOURCE

GREY THERAP MADCHEF ASIATIC

GEMCON ACCENTURE MTB IDLC

VIZRT QUBEE MAGNITO MIR

Sport 27D

T

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Zimbabwe to set foot on Dhaka Nov 2Zimbabwe will visit Bangladesh next month for a three-match one-day international series and two Twenty20 internationals. Bangladesh Cricket Board, through a press release yesterday announced the itinerary of the bilateral series.

ITINERARYNov 2 ArrivalNov 5 Warm-up gameNov 7 1st ODINov 9 2nd ODINov 11 3rd ODINov 13 1st T20I Nov 15 2nd T20I

–TRIBUNE DESK

Siddikur tees o� in Hong Kong Open todayAce Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman will tee o� in his 10th tournament this year when the Hong Kong Open begins today at Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. Siddikur, whose best � nish this season came in the Queen’s Cup where he ended at 3rd position, will be con� dent heading into the $2m event as he concluded his previous tournament, the Venetian Macau Open, in the top 20.

–TRIBUNE DESK

Zimbabwe U19s arrive for four youth ODIsBangladesh Cricket Board yesterday an-nounced the itinerary of the four youth ODIs between hosts Bangladesh Under-19 and the visiting Zimbabwe U-19 side.

ITINERARYNov 10 1st Youth ODI, ZACS, ChittagongNov 12 2nd Youth ODI, ZACS, ChittagongNov 14 3rd Youth ODI, ZACS, ChittagongNov 16 4th Youth ODI, ZACS, Chittagong

–TRIBUNE DESK

FIFA investigates Beckenbauer, Spanish chiefFIFA said Wednesday that investigations have been carried out into German football great Franz Beckenbauer and Spain’s top football of-� cial Angel Maria Villar Llona. It said inquiries for alleged misconduct by the two were now in the hands of the FIFA ethics committee’s main court for a decision. FIFA’s ethics com-mittee did not say why the two were being investigated. But Beckenbauer was head of Germany’s bid committee for 2006 World Cup and he voted when Russia and Qatar were awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively.

–AFP

Pistorius under house arrest after 1 year in jailOscar Pistorius, South Africa’s double-ampu-tee “Blade Runner”, was released on parole late on Monday, just short of a year into his � ve-year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. The disgraced Paralympic gold medallist must serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest and still faces an appeal on Nov. 3.

–REUTERS

QUICK BYTES

England tormentor Warne inspires Yasirn AFP, Dubai

Fit-again Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah will seek inspiration from former Australian great Shane Warne’s exploits against England when he plays in the second Test starting in Dubai from Thursday, he said.

Shah, 29, was seen as Pakistan’s trump card in the three-match series but was forced to miss last week’s � rst Test in Abu Dhabi with a back spasm.

Pakistan missed his bowling after narrow-ly escaping defeat on the � fth and � nal day as England - chasing 99 for a dramatic win - fell short by 25 runs when umpires called o� play due to bad light with eight of the 19 overs still to be bowled.

England, replying to Pakistan’s 523-8 de-clared, made 598-9 as the Abu Dhabi pitch

was unresponsive to bowlers.Shah said he had watched Warne destroy-

ing England. “I have watched the Ashes when Warne did well against England,” said Shah of the Aussie great who took 195 of the 708 wickets in his career against England.

Warne took 23 wickets in Australia’s 5-0 whitewash of England in 2006-07.

“Then I noticed that they are weak against leg-spin so I have watched those videos and have tried to bowl like that in nets and I am quite hopeful that I will do as per require-ments,” said Shah. He feels England’s frail-ties against spin could be exploited.

“I think they are weak against the leg-spin-ners so will strongly try to exploit that,” said Shah, who claims to have started bowling af-ter watching Warne.

“I started bowling by watching Warne in a

match on television. I never got to work with him but met him and he told me about weak-nesses in my bowling,” said Shah of his meet-ing with the Australian great earlier this year.

Shah said he had recovered form the inju-ry which kept him out out of the � rst Test.

“It’s better than before. I am 99 percent � t and I bowled and � elded in practice. I did bowl a few days back and did not feel any pain. When I got injured it was di� cult to even walk,” he said.

“I was sad that I unfortunately missed the Test because of the back spasm but I don’t think the break is big. I didn’t bowl for only three days after that mishap so that will not be much. I am looking forward to playing,” said the leg-spinner, who hopes to emulate his good performance against Australia and New Zealand in Dubai last year.l

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah (C) bowls in the nets yesterday in Dubai ahead of their second Test against England today REUTERS

Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni poses for a sel� e with a fan as he arrives for a practice session yesterday ahead of their 4th ODI against South Africa in Chennai today AP

BD U17 V CAB U17, DAY 2Bangladesh U17 (1st innings):357/6 dec in 103 overs (Aminul 129*, Mahmudul 81, Ridoy 67*, Manna 3/20)CAB U17 (1st innings):158/6 in 76 overs (Sayan 78)

CAB U17 trail by 199 runs

U17s tighten the screwsn Tribune Desk

Bangladesh Under-17 continued their domi-nance over the visiting Cricket Association of Bengal U-17 side in the ongoing three-dayer series as the latter ended the second day’s proceedings yesterday on 158/6, trailing the home side’s � rst-innings tally by 199 runs.

In the picturesque coastal city of Cox’s Ba-

zar, Bangladesh U-17 posted 357 in their � rst essay, thanks in no small part to an unbeaten 129 from captain Aminul Islam. Studded with 15 fours and a six, Aminul’s knock was com-plemented well by Mahmudul Hasan’s 81.

And earlier yesterday, lower-order bats-man Sahadat Ridoy joined in on the act, reg-istering an enterprising, undefeated 67 fea-turing � ve boundaries and two sixes.

In reply, the tourists made a good start to their reply, with openers Sayan Biswas (77) and Sharnik Banerjee (38) adding 63 runs. The rest of their middle-order however, gave in to the relentless pressure created by the disciplined Bangladesh U-17 bowlers.

Hasan Mahmud (2/23), Sharif Islam (1/22), Ishaq Ali (1/32) and Sahadat Ridoy (1/41) took wickets at regular intervals and will be look-ing to mop up the visitors’ tail quickly when the � nal day’s play takes place today. l

28DT Sport

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

RESULTSGROUP E

BATE (BLR) 0-2 Barcelona (ESP) Rakitic 48, 64Leverkusen (GER) 4-4 Roma (ITA)Hernandez 4-P, 19, De Rossi 29, 38, Kampl 84, Mehmedi 86 Pjanic 54, Falque 73

GROUP FArsenal (ENG) 2-0 Bayern Munich (GER)Giroud 77, Ozil 90+4

Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 0-1 Olympiakos (GRE) Ideye 79

GROUP GPorto (POR) 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR)Aboubakar 37, Brahimi 41Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 0-0 Chelsea (ENG)

GROUP HZenit (RUS) 3-1 Lyon (FRA)Dzyuba 3, Hulk 56, Lacazette 49Danny 83

Valencia (ESP) 2-1 Gent (BEL)L Nielsen 15-og, Foket 40S Mitrovic 72-og 

Arsenal’s German mid� elder Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during their UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich at the Emirates stadium in London, on Tuesday AFP

Arsenal down Bayern to revive UCL hopes, sorry Chelsea heldn AFP, Paris

Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil struck late on as Arsenal gave their Champions League hopes a shot in the arm with a stirring 2-0 win over Bayern Munich at the Emirates Sta-dium on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chelsea had to settle for a 0-0 draw away to Dynamo Kiev but reigning Eu-ropean champions Barcelona won in Belarus and Bayer Leverkusen played out a thrilling 4-4 draw with Roma in Germany.

Bayern arrived in London having won every game this season and they dominated possession for much of an absorbing Group F encounter.

However, they only remained on level terms at the break thanks to a stunning save by Manuel Neuer to keep out a header from point-blank range by the unmarked Theo Walcott.

But Arsenal, in desperate need of a win after defeats to Dinamo Zagreb and Olympi-akos in their � rst two games, took advantage of a howler by Neuer to get the crucial break-through with 13 minutes remaining.

The Germany goalkeeper came and missed a free-kick, allowing substitute Gir-oud to bundle the ball into the net.

Arsenal then secured the points that keep alive their chances of progressing to the last 16 when Ozil’s � nish from Hector Bellerin’s assist crossed the line despite Neuer’s best e� orts to keep it out.

The Gunners remain bottom of the group with a trip to Bayern to come next, but the four sides are separated by just three points after Olympiakos won 1-0 in Croatia in the night’s other game thanks to a late Brown Ideye goal.

Chelsea remain in a precarious position in

Group G after a 0-0 draw with Dynamo Kiev in chilly Ukraine as the recalled Eden Hazard and Willian both hit the woodwork for the visitors.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho also felt that his side should have been given a pen-alty after Cesc Fabregas went down in the Dynamo box during the � rst half and later told UK television that the referee had been “weak and naive”.

The Premier League champions are third in the group, a point behind Dynamo and three points adrift of Porto, who beat Macca-bi Tel Aviv 2-0 in Portugal thanks to goals by Vincent Aboubakar and Yacine Brahimi.l

Neymar showing leadership in the absence of Messin Reuters

Barcelona forward Neymar again showed he is capable of providing leadership and im-petus in the absence of Lionel Messi during their Champions League victory over BATE Borisov.

With Messi missing for two months with a knee injury the responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of Neymar to drive Barca from the front and he has risen to the occasion.

Last Saturday he hit four goals in the Cata-lan side’s demolition of Rayo Vallecano in La Liga and then on Tuesday he provided both assists for Ivan Rakitic’s double in the 2-0 victory over BATE.

“I think it is the case that Neymar has tak-en up a roll where he participates more in the build up of play with Messi not there,” Barca defender Marc Bartra told reporters.

“He is playing well and with the quality that we have in attack it is important that players like he and Suarez keep scoring the goals for us.”

In contrast to Uruguayan Luis Suarez, who

has had a quiet start to the season by his own high standards, Neymar is showing that he has a lot more to his game than just goals and fancy footwork.

He is able to pick the ball up in deeper ar-eas of the pitch and provide the vision which Barca need with Messi and Andres Iniesta in the treatment room.

Still Barca are not showing the same lethal � nishing as last season when their three for-wards hit 122 goals between them on the way to winning the treble.

They now have a comfortable three point lead in Champions League Group E and are joint top of La Liga but the � rst half against BATE was another example where they struggled to � nish o� the chances they made.

“Neymar is a great player but Leo is in-comparable and there is no way you can re-place him,” Javier Mascherano told reporters.

“Neymar and Suarez are among the best players in the world, they needed to step up and � ll the gap which is what is happening but it is also the responsibility of the rest of the team." l

Barcelona’s Brazilian superstar Neymar (2R) � ghts for the ball with a trio of BATE Borisov defenders during their Champions League match at the Borisov Arena stadium in Belarus on Tuesday REUTERS

Sport 29D

T

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Ten Sports1:30PMWTA 2015: Kremlin Cup Querter� nal 1, 2 7:00PM ATP World Tour 500 Erste Bank Open, Rd of 16 Uefa Europa League 11:00PMMonaco v Qarabag 1:00AMMidtjylland v Napoli Ten Action10:15AMWest Indies Tour of Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 1 Uefa Europa League9:00PMQabala v Dortmund 11:00PMAnderlecht v Tottenham 1:00AMLiverpool v Rubin Ten Cricket12:00PMEngland Tour of Pakistan (UAE) 2nd Test, Day 1 Uefa Europa League 11:00PMLazio v Rosenborg 1:00AMFenerbahce v Ajax Star Sports 12:00PMSouth Africa Tour of India 4th ODI Star Sports 27:20PMIndian Super League 2015 Goa v Kerala

DAY’S WATCH

Klopp set for An� eld bow, Spurs revisit old foesn AFP, Paris

Liverpool (ENG) v Rubin Kazan (RUS)Jurgen Klopp takes charge of Liverpool at An� eld for the � rst time tonight when the three-time UEFA Cup winners host Russian out� t Rubin Kazan.

A disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Sion on matchday two left the Reds with just two points from their � rst two Group B � xtures, but the An� eld faithful will hope the arrival of Klopp can spark an upturn in fortunes.

“There are good players here. I saw many good things in my team,” Klopp told Liver-pool’s club website after making his bow in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.

“We don’t have to sprinkle magic dust on them ‘and now you can play football’. They know how to play,” added the German, in-sisting that his squad simply needed time to click into gear.

Rubin, bottom of the group on one point, have also changed their coach since the group stage draw was made as Valeri Chaly took

over as caretaker boss from Rinat Bilyaletdi-nov in September after the Kazan-based side lost six of their � rst seven league games.

Anderlecht (BEL) v Tottenham (ENG)Anderlecht and Tottenham will roll back the years when the two sides meet at the Con-stant Vanden Stock Stadium in a rematch of the 1984 UEFA Cup � nal, won by Spurs 4-3 on penalties after a pair of 1-1 draws.

The north Londoners have four Belgian players on their books but will be without Nacer Chadli for six weeks after he damaged ankle ligaments in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool.

Spurs are unbeaten in the Premier League since the opening weekend of the season and lead Group J with four points, three ahead of an Anderlecht side without a win in � ve Eu-ropean matches.

With two home matches to come Mauricio Pochettino’s men know victory in Belgium would leave them well positioned to reach the knockout stages.

Qabala (AZE) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)Borussia Dortmund make a 3,300-kilometre trip east to Azerbaijan where Group C rivals Qabala will put their strong defensive home record on the line as they face German oppo-sition for the � rst time.

Dortmund are unbeaten in Europe under new boss Thomas Tuchel, who saw his side win 2-0 on his return to former club Mainz last Friday to end a three-game winless run in the Bundesliga. “The match against Mainz was the � rst step in the right direction. Our game will come back to us gradually,” said Marco Reus, who scored the opener in the victory at Mainz, in an interview posted on Dortmund’s club website. The Germans top the group on four points, while Qabala are bottom on one but did record a � fth consecutive clean sheet at home in Europe after opening the cam-paign with a 0-0 draw against PAOK.

Molde (NOR) v Celtic (SCO)Ronny Deila takes the Scottish champions to his native Norway to face Molde, who are the

surprise early frontrunners in Group A after stunning Fenerbahce in Turkey before draw-ing with Ajax. Celtic let a two-goal lead slip against Fenerbahce in a 2-2 draw last time out but the Hoops returned to the top of the Scot-tish Premiership at the weekend for the � rst time in over a month.

Celtic, with two draws from their opening two matches, could move top should they beat Molde but Deila has warned his players not to underestimate Thursday’s opponents.

Fenerbahce (TUR) v Ajax (NED)Fenerbahce and Ajax, two big-name casual-ties in this season’s Champions League quali-fying rounds, are both still searching for their � rst wins in Group A as the two sides meet in Istanbul.

Fenerbahce are still picking up the pieces after crashing to a 3-1 home defeat against Molde on matchday one and there’s plenty of reason for concern in Turkey with Ajax having won all eight previous meetings with Turkish teams.l

Moeen’s background helping England n AFP, Dubai

England allrounder Moeen Ali revealed Tues-day that his Pakistani background helped him gain insights into his rivals plans to dis-lodge skipper Alastair Cook during his epic double hundred in the � rst Test.

The reason was that Ali, 28, understands the Urdu and Punjabi languages which Paki-stan players normally use to communicate with each other during games.

Born and brought up in Birmingham, Moeen’s grand-father married an English woman after migrating from Azad Kashmir in Pakistan

“I do understand what they are saying,”

said Ali. “When they had a plan for Cooky I was telling him what they will do.”

Cook scored an epic 263 in England’s 598-9 declared in Abu Dhabi in reply to Pakistan’s 523-8. Pakistan slumped to 173 all out in the second innings to give England a 99-run tar-get in 19 overs but umpires were forced to call o� play eight overs early due to bad light.

Ali believes England have worried Pakistan.

“It’s given us a lot of con� dence and prob-ably given Pakistan a bit of a nudge as well that we are here to be serious,” said Ali, fear-ing Pakistan will come back strong in the sec-ond Test starting in Dubai from Thursday.

“We probably caught them o� guard a bit

in that last session, but I’m sure they’ll come back stronger and be well aware of it now,” said Ali, who praised fellow spinner Adil Rashid.

“I am very happy for him, he took some stick in the � rst innings,” said Ali of Rashid who went for 163 runs in his wicket-less 34 overs.

“As a team we felt he bowled quite well ac-tually. There was nothing in it for him or my-self. We kept telling him his wickets would come, he was bowling well in the warm-ups, he’s got so much talent and if his con� dence is high he’ll be good.”

Ali said he was happy to � ll in as opener.Ali admitted leg-spinner Yasir Shah -- who

missed the � rst Test with a back problem -- will boost Pakistan.l

West Indies cricket great Gar� eld Sobers (L) hugs Curtly Ambrose during a training session ahead of their second Test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Sri Lanka yesterday AP

Windies bid to do Sobers proudn AFP, Colombo

The West Indies will look to the legendary Gar� eld Sobers for inspiration as they bid for an unlikely series-saving victory when they take on fellow strugglers Sri Lanka in the sec-ond Test in Colombo beginning Thursday.

The tourists have yet to win a Test in Sri Lanka after 10 attempts and they su� ered an innings defeat last weekend in the � rst Test in Galle where veteran spinner Rangana Her-ath took 10 wickets in the match.

The 79-year-old Sobers, widely regarded as the greatest allrounder ever to have played the game, is in Colombo to watch the second and � nal Test at the P Sara Oval alongside Sri Lanka’s Michael Tissera.

The two men were rival captains when the then Ceylon played the West Indies in an uno� cial one-o� Test at the same venue in 1967. Sobers was the star of the show, hitting a century in a rain-a� ected match.

Back then, the West Indies were on the cusp of a lengthy period of domination in in-ternational cricket while their hosts were still some years away from attaining Test status.l

Downtime30DT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

DILBERT

How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

CODE-CRACKER

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a di� erent letter of the alphabet. For example, today 14 represents M so � ll M every time the � gure 14 appears.You have two letters in the control grid to start you o� . Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.As you get the letters, � ll in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check o� the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

CROSSWORD

ACROSS1 Leader of church singing (6)4 Tear (3)7 Sky coloured (5)8 Fisher (6)11 Pinch (3)12 Close up (4)13 Incites (4)15 Worth (5)16 Person under age (5)20 Domestic animals (4)23 Fashion (4)24 Mild explosion (3)25 Dodges (6)26 Happening (5)27 Lump on the skin (3)28 Bulges out (6)

DOWN1 Yawning � ssure (5)2 E� ective (7)3 Uncommon (4)4 Ladder step (4)5 Part of the eye (4)6 Vigour (3)9 Born (3)10 Slender � sh (3)14 Facial distortion (7)17 Indicate agreement (3)18 Lyric poem (3)19 Reposes (5)20 Bird (4)21 Frank (4)22 Becomes � rm (4)24 Church seat (3)

SUDOKU

Showtime 31D

TTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

WHAT TO WATCH

Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master IIHBO, 7:25pm From a land where honor and tradition reign, comes the legend of a martial-arts hero unlike any other -- the “Drunken Master” -- who can turn just one drink into devastation and humiliation for his enemies. His technique is fast, furious... and powerfully funny.Cast: Jackie Chan, Lung Ti, Anita Mui, Felix Wong, Chia-Liang Liu, Ken Lo, Kar Lok Chin

The MatrixMovies Now, 3:25pmA computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano

Transformers: Dark of the MoonZee Studio, 4:25pmThe Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets.Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, Josh Duhamel

Male� centStar Movies, 5pmA vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.Cast: Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Lesley Manville

Lethal Weapon 2WB, 7:30pm Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats who are using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Joss Ackland, Derrick O’Connor, Patsy Kensit

Nattyabed to stage Kamalakanta todayn Showtime Desk

Marking its seventh founding anniversary, theatre troupe Nattyabed will stage one of their latest productions Kamalakanta today at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at 7pm.

The stage has been adapted by Nasrin Mustafa based on the same title by famous novelist Bankim Chandra Chattyapadhaya. Golam Sarwar has directed the play while Enayet Mawla conducted the background music.

Kamalakanta contains a balance of seriousness and humour. The titular character, Kamalakanta is an opium-addict, similar to De Quincey’s, but Bankim Chandra goes further with his deft handling of sarcastic, political messages that Kamalakanta delivers.

Cast of the show includes Musta� zur Rahman, Promi Ashraf, Nur Islam Tipu, Abul Kashem Ratul, Pavel Kumar Saha, Jahirul Islam, Kanon Ahmed and others. l

n Showtime Desk

Morshedul Islam’s latest venture Anil Bagchir Ekdin has been selected to take part in two international � lm festivals: Colombo Film Festival and World Film Festival Bangkok.

Based on Humayun Ahmed’s novel of the same title, the Liberation war drama will � rst compete in Sri Lanka on November 6 to 11, later being screened in Thailand from November 13 to 22.

In Bangladesh, the � lm will premiere at Star Cineplex on November 13, marking the writer’s 67th birth anniversary. The � lm, which features a Hindu man’s perilous journey to his home village in 1971, will also compete in the Dhaka International Film

Festival to be held in January.The story of the � lm begins sometime in

mid-1971 when Anil Bagchi, an employee of an insurance company, receives a letter from his teacher at the village. The letter mentions that Bagchi’s father was killed by the Pakistani army and his sister has taken shelter at the teacher’s house. The letter also adds a word of caution that any attempt on his part to visit the village now would be

dangerous, but Anil decides to take the risk. With the message of humanity and communal harmony embedded in the story, the � lm is expected to add a new dimension to the existing corpus of � lms on the war of liberation. Produced under the banner of Bengal Creations Limited, Anil Bagchir Ek Din stars Aref Syed, Gazi Rakayet, Tou� que Emon, Jyotika Jyoti and Farhana Mithu in lead roles. l

Anil Bagchir Ekdin in two international � lm fests

n Showtime Desk

American Sniper co-stars Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller reunite to cook up a storm in Burnt as formidable chefs in the culinary comedy-drama.

Cooper plays chef Adam Jones, whose drug use and hot temper lead him to lose his two Michelin star restaurant in Paris.

He looks for a second chance in London and, with the help of talented sous chef Helene (Miller), he tries to land his own new kitchen and a third Michelin star.

Speaking at the � lm’s premiere on Tuesday night, Cooper said that his past work experience, starting at the age of 15 cleaning tables at a Greek restaurant, helped him in the

role.“At 18 I was a prep cook in between high

school and college ... at a seafood Italian restaurant ... I was at the bottom of the hierarchy at that point, so you de� nitely bear the brunt of everybody’s frustration,” he said.

“In the kitchen I feel very comfortable so that was a great thing. I think it helped because we had no cooking doubles we did all the cooking, and it was a functioning kitchen.”

Miller said she underwent intensive training for the role of Helene Sweeney.

“I worked really hard with two Michelin star chef Marcus Wareing in London and I studied chefs,” she said.

“I watched services in many di� erent

kitchens, I interviewed di� erent women and men who work in those kind of kitchens and watched how they moved and I really wanted to immerse myself in it.”Burnt opens in cinemas worldwide from Thursday. l

Cooper, Miller reunite to heat up the kitchen as chefs in Burnt

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

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BPL ICONS SET FOR BLIND DATE PAGE 25

Dhaka Lit Fest programme announcedn Rehan Kabir

The schedule of more than 90 o� erings for the Dhaka Lit Fest has just been announced, and like the title of Shobhaa De's panel dis-cussion, it looks like there will be “Never a Dull De.” The event will be held from Novem-ber 19-21 at the Bangla Academy in the Dhaka University premises.

With heavyweight names like VS Naipaul, Paul Theroux and Harold Varmus, the literary festival will feature moe than 70 prominent authors and artists from around the globe.

“This year has another great international line up. Every year we build on the successes of the previous year, and have been going from strength to strength,” said Sadaf Saaz, the fes-tival producer and one of its three directors, along with Ahsan Akbar and K Anis Ahmed.

The programs include discussions, read-ing, children’s events and performance, run-ning simulatneously at the festival over three days.

“This festival is a vehicle to bring the world closer to us, as well as showcase our own literary and cultural heritage,” Sadaf said. “We want literature to be accessible, engaging and relevant to the younger gener-ation – to make them feel this is very much their festival.”

In the run up to November 19, title spon-sor Dhaka Tribune will be featuring more in depth coverage of this year's speakers and events.

Online registration is mandatory but free. Visit the festival website to read the full schedule: http://dhakalitfest.com.

Day 1 (Thursday, November 19)The Dhaka Lit Fest kicks o� at 9:30am ,with the Ghaashphoring Choir starting the pro-ceedings on the Main Stage.

After around 45 minutes of classical and

original medleys, the Mains Stage is then graced with the keynote speech by Nayan-tara Sahgal. Nobel laureate VS Naipaul then o� cially inaugurates the start of the Dhaka Lit Fest.

The opening plenary, “The world is round,” features a distinguished panel that includes renowned author Paul Theroux and journalist Jon Snow. Moderated by novelist and DLF director K Anis Ahmed, the panel also include academic Ramachandra Guha and founding organiser of Women Of The World (WOW) Jude Kelly.

Nobel Prize winning scientist Harold Var-mus gives a wide-ranging talk covering the excitement of basic science research, gov-ernment and science policy, and the future of global healthcare.

“Can South Asia be a power bloc?” fea-tures three top journalists based out of In-dia, Pakistan and Bangladesh taking a close

look at the region’s realities. Moderated by Ashiqur Rahman, this panel features Victor Mallet, Fasih Ahmed and Dhaka Tribune edi-tor Zafar Sobhan.

Day 2 (Friday, November 20)The day starts o� with “Palestine” in which Jon Snow and two Palestinian poets, Ghassan Zaqtan and Fady Joudah, explore the trans-� xing powers in the Middle-East region – its enduring appeal, endless sorrow and hope-less hopes.

In “VS Naipaul in conversation with Paul Theroux,” the two internationally prominent literary � gures and former rivals appear to-gether in a dialogue on the same platform. It is a � rst in many years, something Dhaka Lit Fest is proud to host.

“The march to independence” session will highlight the launch of Rehman Sob-han’s memoir, Untranquil Recollections:

The Years of Ful� llment. A faculty at Dhaka University and close advisor to the late Bang-abandhu, Rehman Sobhan will share with us his deep insight into all those seminal years, along with distinguished scholar Anisuzzam-an, and renowned Pakistani lawyer Asma Ja-hangir.

The Main Stage will also focus on a live-ly discussion “Working girl: How should sex workers be viewed?” featuring global feminist campaigner Ruchita Gupta, award winning author Sonia Faleiro, The New York Times Book Review editor Parul Sehgal, and member of Bangladeshi women’s activist group Naripokko Firdous Azim, exploring is-sues surrounding the sex trade.

Day 3 (Saturday, November 21)The star studded sessions continue into third day of the festival, as DLF director Ahsan Akbar is joined by notable international journalist Jon Snow in “Shooting history,” discussing the political changes and its impacts in the last three decades, and facilitating numerous public debates and news campaigns.

Nobel laureate and cancer researcher Har-old Varmus talks to Sadaf Saaz about his life-time of passion for literature and science.

The DLF will also play hosts to “Femi-nism: The next F word” social commentator and celebrated author Shobhaa De, writer and columnist Laura Bates, activist Tasa� y Hossain, and publisher Urvashi Butalia as they debate on issues of modern feminism.

Moderated by Victor Mallet, “Midnight's stepchild: Liberalism and radicalism” will see a panel consisting of Nayantara Sahgal, Kiran Nagarkar, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Minoli Salgado, Fasih Ahmed and Bikash Sangraula discuss issues of poltical philosophy in the South Asian region, as as wrap up to the three-day programme. l

Lacklustre Mohammedan start on losing noten Shishir Hoque

A mis� ring Dhaka Mohammedan began their Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup cam-paign with a 1-0 defeat against Afghan side De Sphin Ghar Bazan at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong yesterday.

A blunder from the Mohammedan defence allowed Anwar Akbari to bag the all-important goal for the visiting side in the 33rd minute.

The traditional Black and Whites went agonisingly close to equalising the margin several times in the second half but all their e� orts were neutralised due to a lack of com-posure in the � nal third.

Mohammedan goalkeeper Ashraful Haq

Rana put up a brilliant display and prevented a cricket score-line.

Head coach Joshimuddin Joshi organised his starting XI with the inclusion of youngster Nabib Newaj Jibon as the lone central forward.

Jibon, who was recently called up to the national squad, was brought in from Team BJMC on loan. And more often than not, it was Jibon who threatened the most with his ability to win balls in the air during the set-pieces. However, most of his headers missed the target.

Meanwhile, the Chittagong crowd can ex-pect an enterprising encounter today when Dhaka Abahani lock horns with its Chittagong counterpart in a Group B match at 7:30pm. l

Joe Biden not running for White Housen Reuters, Washington

US Vice President Joe Biden said yesterday he would not run for president in 2016, ending months of suspense and easing Democrat-ic front-runner Hillary Clinton’s path to the party’s nomination.

Biden, who had been pondering a run since August, appeared in the White House Rose Garden with his wife Jill and President Barack Obama to say the window for mounting a successful campaign had closed.

“While I will not be a candidate, I will not be silent,” Biden told reporters. “I intend to speak out clearly and forcefully to in� uence

as much as I can where we stand as a party and where we need to go as a nation,” Biden said.

Biden, 72, had been wrestling with his own doubts about whether he and his fam-ily were ready for a grueling campaign while still mourning his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in May. His son had urged him to run.

Biden’s decision was a huge boost for Clin-ton, whose prime challenger now is US Sena-tor Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

But Biden is popular with white, work-ing-class voters, and he could still play a major role in the election if he chooses to en-dorse a Democratic candidate. l

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